Providing Expert Advice
For the Home Gardener
““In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.” - Rose G. Kingsley, author”
Notes from my Garden - September
"I always think of September as the start of a new year rather than January 1st. Perhaps a holdover from years of school, when September signalled a new start! But as a gardener, I tend to mourn the end of summer. Rose Kingsley reminds us to see the autumn as a time to reflect and appreciate our gardening efforts and so, I will try to shift my focus to more positive thoughts.
I am busy harvesting tomatoes, beans, the ubiquitous zucchini along with other bits and pieces. I'll be making salsa and tomato sauce and chopping and freezing tomatoes for use in the winter. Of course, eating fresh tomatoes every day! I love tomatoes and they are so so good. The garlic has been hanging for a month so it is almost ready to cut down and store. We'll plant next year's garlic crop around Thanksgiving. My various squashes and pumpkins are coming along well, though a flock of wild turkey's has decided the area these vegetables are in, is good for a dirt bath. The turkey's have been fun to watch as they eat the berries off the Pagoda dogwood and mountain ash, occasionally flying up and sitting on the branches. I am also harvesting herbs for drying and freezing. I find freezing retains the summer flavour of many herbs better than drying.
This summer had great fluctuations of weather - from cold to hot, drought to downpours. September is a good time to take stock of how things are growing in the garden and if they need to be relocated in order to thrive. The recent rains have certainly caused some of my plants (and weeds) to grow, so I need to consider dividing and thinning things in some places. As the Grey County Master Gardeners annual plant sale is September 12th, some of my divisions are going there. It is important to be careful about pruning in the early fall as any new growth won't have sufficient time to harden up before winter. Better to wait until November, when plants are more likely to be dormant, to do any major pruning.
I've noticed that the evening temperature has been much cooler. While this is welcome for sleeping, it is important to keep a close watch that it doesn't get too cold for any plants that need to be moved indoors. Typically, when night temperatures are regularly around 10 degrees C, usually mid to late September in our area, it is time to move them in. I have a large rosemary plant that I plant out in late May (early June this year), that I will dig up, repot and bring inside. It is about 10 years old and seems happy with it's “summer vacation” before being placed in a cool room that gets lots of sun for the winter. But, before it comes in, I'll check for insects. I have a few other houseplants in pots that are outside that I'll be bringing in later this month as well, with the same protocol.
September is also a time to cut flowers for inside, especially as the nights are getting dark earlier and we are starting to spend more time indoors. There is nothing better than a cheerful bunch of zinnias!
I hope to see you at the plant sale - Meaford Harbour Pavilion on Saturday September 12th from 9 to noon.
Happy Gardening!
Susan Cox
Group Coordinator
Grey County Master Gardeners
Part of an international non-profit community service network, Grey County Master Gardeners is a group of approximately 20 trained horticulturists who volunteer their time to provide advice to home gardeners in the Grey and Bruce area. This is accomplished by providing info to the public in various forms, including in person or virtual, through presentations, clinics and workshops, or through written work such as articles, posts, blogs or social media.
All Master Gardeners have successfully completed university horticultural studies and must meet ongoing continuing education requirements to make sure that our advice to gardeners is based on current horticultural knowledge.
There are over 25 local Master Gardener groups in Ontario, focusing on sustainable gardening information for the public. There are also Master Gardener groups in many provinces, most states and in some international locations. More information about the Provincial organization can be found at (MGOI – Motivating and Inspiring Gardeners in Ontario).
Not in Grey County? Don’t despair. You can find your local MG groups, including Toronto, Guelph, Collingwood and others, at www.mgoi.ca.
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Established in 1996, Grey County Master Gardeners are part of the province-wide Master Gardeners of Ontario (MGOI). Grey County Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who offer non-biased, science-based horticultural information and advice to home gardeners and community groups in both Grey and Bruce Counties.
Our Vision
An Eco-Responsible focus in the garden
Our Values
We believe in the importance of having an eco-responsible focus when gardening. This means we encourage gardening practices that enhance biodiversity, mitigate against climate change, are healthy for the environment and support human health. As a group, we prefer consensus whenever possible, however there are times when a majority rules. We value inclusiveness, collaboration, engagement of community and cooperation.
