Late-September Garden To-Do List

Two weeks ago, we called it the Autumnal Transition, with summer and fall sharing the same beds. Now the scales are tipping. The equinox has passed, the nights are officially longer than the days, and the temperatures outside are FINALLY starting to feel like sweater weather is a possibility. This is the stretch where summer hands the baton to fall. The tomatoes and peppers are on borrowed time, and the little greens you tucked into their shade are ready for more light and more of your attention. Here’s what we’re doing in our gardens (and what we’re coaching clients through across Middle Tennessee):

Harvest

Tomatoes, okra, peppers, and eggplant are still producing in many gardens. Even if they’re winding down, be sure to harvest often and remove any fruits with blemishes to keep pests from moving in.

We’re also starting to enjoy arugula, baby mustard greens, and the very first salad turnips in a few gardens—what a treat!

Pruning/Removing:

Summer crops are winding down, so this is a good time to pull spent squash, cucumbers, and heat-worn basil.

Two weeks ago, the shade from big summer plants helped fall seedlings get established. Now those seedlings need the light. If peppers, eggplant, or tomatoes are crowding out your greens, trim back branches or pull the plant entirely.

Pro tip: Avoid pruning when plants are wet, since fungal diseases spread more easily then. Wait for a dry, sunny day to grab your shears.

Plant

If you've got a little space, there's still time for radishes, mustards, baby lettuces, and spinach. These crops don't mind the shorter days ahead, especially when direct seeded now. Choose fast-growing varieties and sow generously, then thin for baby greens in a couple of weeks.

We're also tucking in violas, calendula, and some last-minute dill or cilantro before frost.

Lost your fall seedlings to the heat? You're not alone. Check out this week's Q&A, [Did I Miss My Chance to Plant a Fall Garden?], for what you can still plant.

Feed

We’ve asked a lot of the soil this year, and if you’re not getting a lot of production, try adding a balanced fertilizer like Garden Tone. If you want more greens, try adding Nitrogen heavy bloodmeal. If you’re happy with the growth of your plants, then leave them be and let them get accustomed to their new homes. You can always just feed them a simple multivitamin in the form of fresh compost to give them a boost

We like to keep feeding light but consistent this time of year—remember, plants are growing slower now, so don’t overdo it.

Water

Keep giving seedlings a late-afternoon drink on hot days. As the nights cool off, shift your watering to the morning so leaves have time to dry before dark, which helps keep fungal problems at bay.

Pests

Cabbage worms, harlequin bugs, and aphids haven’t gotten the memo that it’s fall. Keep checking the undersides of leaves (especially brassicas like kale and collards), and squish or spray as needed. A little Bt can go a long way for caterpillar control—just don’t forget to reapply after rain.

Slugs and pill bugs may also show up in wet weather. Trap them with boards or terra cotta saucers, or sprinkle diatomaceous earth around seedlings to protect them.

💡 Extra Tip: Timing is Everything

From here on out, the days are getting shorter—so it’s all about leafy greens, roots, and herbs. Fruiting crops like peas may not make it unless they’re already established. Focus your energy on what will actually mature before the Persephone period (aka the ten darkest weeks of the year). Think quality over quantity and protect what’s growing!