What to Plant in September in Preston | Seasonal Gardening Guide
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- 6 min read
September is a month of change in the garden. Summer crops are still producing, but cooler temperatures and shorter days mean it's time to start thinking about autumn and winter growing.
For gardeners in Preston and across Lancashire, September is a surprisingly productive month. There are still vegetables you can sow, crops you can plant for winter harvesting, and plenty of opportunities to prepare your garden for the months ahead.
At Let's Grow Preston, we use horticulture to help people develop practical skills, spend time outdoors, support their physical and mental wellbeing, connect with others and engage with nature. Whether you're growing on an allotment, in a garden, community growing space or a few containers at home, September is a great time to keep growing.
What to Plant in September in Preston
The warmer summer weather may be fading, but the soil can still hold plenty of warmth in September. This makes it a useful month for sowing quick-growing crops and planting vegetables that can tolerate cooler temperatures.
Vegetables to Sow in September
Depending on the variety and your growing conditions, you can sow:
Spinach
Radishes
Spring onions
Winter salad leaves
Lamb's lettuce
Mustard greens
Pak choi
Turnips
Winter-hardy broad beans
Fast-growing salad crops can provide harvests before winter, while hardy crops such as spinach can continue producing leaves into the colder months.
If you're sowing seeds directly into the ground, make sure the soil is reasonably well prepared and isn't waterlogged.
Planting Garlic in September
September is also a good time to start thinking about garlic.
Garlic is usually planted in autumn or early winter, giving the cloves time to establish roots before the coldest weather arrives.
Choose a sunny, well-drained position and plant individual cloves with the pointed end facing upwards.
If your garden tends to become very wet during autumn and winter, consider growing garlic in raised beds or containers where drainage can be better controlled.
Herbs to Grow in September
September is a good time to continue growing hardy herbs and bring some tender herbs indoors before temperatures drop.
You can grow or plant:
Parsley
Chives
Mint
Coriander
Thyme
Growing herbs in containers makes it easier to move tender plants somewhere sheltered as the weather gets colder.
Flowers to Plant in September
September isn't just about vegetables.
It's also a useful time to plant spring-flowering bulbs and establish plants that will provide colour next year.
Consider planting:
Daffodils
Crocuses
Alliums
Hyacinths
Tulips
Spring-flowering perennial plants
Planting bulbs now gives them time to establish roots before winter.
When choosing flowers, consider varieties that provide food for pollinators at different times of the year. A garden that supports wildlife doesn't need to stop being useful once summer ends.
What Can You Still Harvest in September?
September can provide an impressive harvest.
Depending on what you've grown, you may still be harvesting:
Tomatoes
Courgettes
Runner beans
French beans
Beetroot
Carrots
Potatoes
Peppers
Apples
Pears
Raspberries
Blackberries
Autumn-fruiting strawberries
Remember to check your plants regularly. Courgettes and beans in particular can grow surprisingly quickly!
Sharing surplus produce with friends, neighbours or local community food projects can also help prevent food from going to waste.
Gardening Tips for September in Preston
Gardening in Preston means being prepared for changing weather.
September can bring warm sunny days, heavy rain and much cooler nights — sometimes within the same week.
Watch the weather
Keep an eye on overnight temperatures, particularly towards the end of the month. Tender plants may need protection as temperatures fall.
Keep harvesting
Continue picking crops regularly while plants are productive.
Protect young plants
Newly planted crops may benefit from protection against slugs, heavy rain and cold nights.
Improve your soil
Adding compost or well-rotted organic matter can help maintain healthy soil and prepare beds for future growing.
Clear diseased plants
Remove plants showing signs of serious disease and dispose of affected material appropriately rather than adding it to your compost if the disease could spread.
Start Preparing Your Garden for Autumn
September is an ideal month to start preparing for the colder months without simply clearing everything away.
Leave some seed heads and plant material where appropriate. These can provide food and shelter for birds and insects.
You can also:
Add compost or organic matter to empty beds
Collect fallen leaves for leaf mould
Plant spring bulbs
Protect tender plants
Clean and store equipment
Plan next year's growing space
A productive garden doesn't have to look perfectly tidy. Leaving some natural areas can benefit wildlife while reducing the amount of maintenance required.
Don't Have a Garden?
You don't need a large growing space to enjoy September gardening.
Try growing:
Salad leaves in containers
Radishes in pots
Herbs on a windowsill
Spinach in a planter
Garlic in a container
If you're interested in growing but don't have your own space, community gardens and allotments can also provide opportunities to learn and get involved.
Gardening Is About More Than Growing
At Let's Grow Preston, the food and plants we grow are only part of the story.
Horticulture gives people opportunities to learn practical skills, spend time outdoors, be active, connect with nature and build relationships with other people.
The crops we sow and harvest are tangible results of that work, but the wider purpose is creating opportunities for people and communities to thrive.
That's why we use horticulture as a tool to support wellbeing, build connections and create healthier, greener communities across Preston.
Get Involved With Let's Grow Preston
There are lots of ways to get involved with Let's Grow Preston, whether you're an experienced gardener or completely new to growing.
You can:
Join one of our gardening workshops
Volunteer in our community gardens
Learn practical horticultural skills
Join our Gardening Club
Connect with local growing projects
You don't need to know everything about gardening before you start. Learning is part of the process.
So grab your seeds, prepare your soil and keep growing this September.
What to Plant Next Month
October brings cooler temperatures, but there are still jobs to do in the garden.
It's a good time to continue planting spring bulbs, protect tender plants and prepare growing spaces for winter.
Keep an eye out for our next What to Plant in Preston guide for more seasonal gardening advice.
Stay Connected
Want more seasonal gardening advice?
Sign up to the Let's Grow Preston newsletter for:
Monthly planting guides
Seasonal gardening tips
Community gardening news
Volunteer opportunities
Workshops and events
Sustainability advice
Together, we're helping create greener, healthier, and more connected communities across Preston and Lancashire.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gardening in Preston in September
What vegetables can I plant in September in Preston?
You can sow crops such as spinach, radishes, spring onions, winter salad leaves, lamb's lettuce, mustard greens, pak choi and turnips in September. Some varieties of broad beans can also be sown for overwintering.
Is September too late to plant vegetables?
No. September is still a productive month for growing in Preston. The soil can retain warmth from summer, making it suitable for quick-growing crops and vegetables that tolerate cooler autumn conditions.
Can I plant garlic in September?
Yes. Garlic is commonly planted during autumn or early winter. September can be a good time to plant garlic, particularly where soil conditions are well drained.
What flowers can I plant in September?
September is a good time to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses, alliums, hyacinths and tulips. You can also plant suitable perennial plants to establish them before winter.
What can I harvest in September?
Depending on what you've grown, you may still be harvesting tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans, French beans, beetroot, carrots, potatoes, peppers, apples, pears and autumn-fruiting berries.
Do I need to protect plants in September?
Some tender plants may need protection as temperatures begin to fall. Keep an eye on overnight temperatures and consider moving container-grown tender plants somewhere sheltered.
Can I grow vegetables in containers in September?
Yes. September is a good time to grow salad leaves, radishes, spinach, herbs and garlic in containers. Containers can be particularly useful if you have limited outdoor space.
What should I do with my garden in September?
September is a good time to continue harvesting, sow autumn crops, plant spring bulbs, improve your soil with compost, protect tender plants and prepare your garden for winter. Leaving some plant material in place can also provide valuable habitat for wildlife.
How can I get involved with Let's Grow Preston?
Let's Grow Preston offers gardening workshops, volunteering opportunities, community gardening and horticultural activities across Preston. These activities provide opportunities to learn practical skills, spend time outdoors, connect with nature and other people, and contribute to greener and healthier communities.
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