GROW YOUR OWN THIS SEPTEMBER

With the weather struggling to make up its mind about which season we’re in, it can be tricky to know which fruits and veggies will thrive in the garden at this time of year. Not to worry! Here’s what you can plant this September:

✓ Apple trees (pot-grown) or bare-root from October – If you’ve got apple-tree envy, now is the time to plant your own so you can stop trying to steal the neighbour’s apples over the fence. Try the ‘James Grieve’ variety; it can be used for cooking, eating and juicing, it is self pollinating, is easy to grow and has a pleasant, crisp fruit.

✓ Beans (broad) – get your beans started now but cover them with fleece when there is frost or snow.

✓ Cabbages (spring varieties)

✓ Onions – sow in autumn to enjoy an early crop next spring.

✓ Peas – pick a hardy variety and keep it warm under fleece during frost or snow.

✓ Salad leaves – some varieties can be sown in a sheltered spot outside, others will prefer a greenhouse.

✓ Spinach (winter) – cover with fleece when it starts to get cold.

Always check your seed packets or individual plant information because sowing and planting instructions can vary between different varieties.