Planting Brassicas in September — Yes, You Can (And Here’s How!)
September — the "Wait, Is It Too Late?" month.
You'd be forgiven for thinking September is all about packing the garden away. Nights drawing in, rain turning up uninvited, half the allotment looking tired and bedraggled.
But September is actually brilliant for brassicas. You won't be harvesting giant cauliflowers by Christmas, but there are plenty of hardy greens you can plant now that'll keep you eating fresh right through winter and into next spring.
Quick note: I garden here in Tonbridge, Kent, but this advice works for most of the UK — whether you're in Kent, Yorkshire, Wales or Scotland. If you're further north or higher up, just sow that bit earlier in September, and give them a bit more fleece when the hard frosts come. Tough plants are tough plants, wherever you are!
And the best bit? They pretty much look after themselves. No fuss, no drama — perfect for the messy gardener!
What You CAN Plant in September — Seeds or Plants?
🥬 KALE (curly, Tuscan, Red Russian)BEST AS: PLANTS / TransplantsEat: Now → next springThe absolute hero. Frost makes it sweeter, honest! Plant deep, up to first leaves, firm in well.
🥬 WINTER-HARDY SPINACHBEST AS: SEEDS - sow direct where they growEat: Autumn → springNot the tender summer stuff — get hardy types. Sow 1cm deep, keep moist.
🥬 PAK CHOI / MIZUNA / MUSTARD GREENSBEST AS: SEEDS - sow directEat: 4-6 weeks — your fastest win!Quick cut-and-come-again for salads & stir-fries. Sow every 2 weeks in Sept.
🥬 SPRING CABBAGEBEST AS: PLANTS / TransplantsEat: Late winter → early springDefinitely get plants now — seeds too late. Best fresh greens you'll get in March.
🥬 TURNIP (quick types like Atlantic)BEST AS: SEEDS - sow directEat: Autumn → early winterFast-growing, pull small and sweet. Sow early Sept at latest.
❌ SKIP NOW: Summer cabbage, cauliflowers, broccoli — they need too much time and warmth. Save for spring.
How To Plant 'Em — No Fancy Gear Needed
Ground prep — keep it simpleClear weeds and old crops — brassicas hate competition. Firm soil well — walk over it gently or tamp with back of rake. No fresh manure now — it makes soft sappy growth frost ruins. If soil's acidic, sprinkle a little garden lime.
Spacing mattersTransplants: Plant deeper than they were in pots — right up to first leaves. Seeds: Sow thinly, 1cm deep, thin out. Space 30-45cm apart — don't cram them.
The ONE thing you MUST do — NETTING
🚨 PIGEON WARNING — DO THIS ON DAY 1!
Pigeons. That's it. That's the whole warning.
They see brassicas and think FREE BUFFET. Plant them, turn your back five minutes — poof — gone.
Keep netting or fleece over them from day one. Old fruit cage netting, hoops with fleece, whatever you've got. Just keep birds off. No net = no dinner.
Pests & Problems — Messy Gardener Reality
Caterpillars: Pick off what you see — fewer butterflies in Sept.Flea beetle: Tiny holes? Keep soil moist — they hate damp.Wind: Kent breezes + tall kale = floppy. Firm soil well, stake tall ones. Same in windy spots up north!Slugs: Less of a problem now, but check round base.
My No-Fuss September Plan
"Don't overthink it. Plant hardy stuff, keep the pigeons off, and wait."
They grow slowly through autumn, sit quiet all winter, then explode in spring — fresh greens weeks before anything else. Feels like magic, but it's just clever timing.
Do you plant brassicas in autumn? Got a favourite winter-hardy green? Drop a comment below — I'd love to hear what's going in your patch, wherever you are in the country!
Happy gardening — even the messy bits!— Dave, The Messy Gardener, Tonbridge, Kent — but for gardeners everywhere in the UK
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