September Veg For Beginners (That Actually Survive)

If you're brand new to growing veg, here's the truth I wish someone told me:

You don't need to be good at gardening. You just need to pick the stuff that wants to live.

These are my top 10 forgiving, wonky-carrot-friendly crops. They grow in the ground, raised beds, or a couple of big pots by the back door. No greenhouse, no fancy kit.

And the best bit? September is NOT the end. It's a secret second spring. Sow now and you'll be picking fresh stuff while everyone else is waiting for March.

1. Salad Leaves

My number 1 for beginners. Ready in 4-6 weeks. Cut the outside leaves and they grow back.Sow: Sun or light shade. Keep damp.

2. Radishes

Ready in 3 weeks. Kids love pulling these up — it's like buried treasure.Sow: Full sun. Don't leave them or they go woody.

3. Spinach

Likes a bit of shade, likes neglect, keeps giving you leaves. Young leaves taste sweetest.Sow: Rich, moist soil.

4. Spring Onions

Take up zero space. Grow them between other stuff.Sow: Any decent soil, full sun. Pull when pencil-thick, about 8 weeks.

5. Kale

Almost impossible to kill. Sits through frost and actually tastes better after a cold snap.Sow: Sun or light shade. Pick from the top.

6. Carrots - The Short Ones!

Forget long perfect supermarket ones. Grow short, stubby, round types. Way easier.Sow: Light, stone-free soil. No fresh manure.

7. Beetroot

Tough as old boots. And you can eat the leaves too.Sow: Sun, well-drained. Pull at golf-ball size.

8. Broad Beans - Aquadulce Claudia

Sow in September, ignore all winter, they explode in spring. My favourite autumn job.Sow: Sunny, sheltered spot. 5cm deep, 20cm apart.

9. Garlic

Plant a clove, forget it, harvest next summer. Needs a cold winter to split.Plant: Pointy end up, free-draining soil, 2.5cm deep, 10cm apart.

10. Lamb's Lettuce (Corn Salad)

Thrives in the cold. Proper winter salad when everything else gives up.Sow: Anywhere. Sun or shade.

What To Sow In September

Early September (1st - 15th): Salad leaves, lamb's lettuce, winter spinach, radish, spring onions. They need to get going before it gets cold.

Mid-Late September (16th - 30th): Broad beans, garlic, kale. These like cool soil.

After that? Stop sowing salads. Just beans and garlic. Let the garden rest.

Don't sow tomatoes, chillies or courgettes now — they need heat and long days. Save those for spring.

How To Sow Them - The Messy Way

In the ground or raised beds:

Pull the big weeds.

Rake level-ish so it's crumbly.

Make a shallow groove with a stick — twice as deep as the seed. Most are 1-2cm.

Sow THINLY. Thumb-width apart. Don't dump the whole packet!

Cover gently, pat down, water with a fine rose.

LABEL IT. Crop + date on a lolly stick. You will forget.

In pots:

Pots at least 15-20cm deep with holes. Multi-purpose compost, leave 2cm gap at top. Scatter thinly, cover lightly, water gently. Put near a wall for shelter. Check weekly — pots dry out fast.

When seedlings have 2-3 leaves, pull the weakest ones out to give space. Eat the thinnings!

Quick September Tips

• Sow early in the month if you can.

• Don't overwater — autumn rain helps.

• Throw fleece or an old net curtain over them on cold windy nights.

• Don't feed now. Save it for spring.

• Mark your rows or you'll weed your carrots by accident.

• You will lose some. I still kill stuff every year. That's normal. But these 10 are forgiving. Sow a little now and while everyone else is waiting for March, you'll have beans and garlic tucked in and salad in the fridge.

Start messy, start small. That's the whole point.

— Dave, The Messy Gardener