September has been a soggy affair, and the waterproof trousers have made an early return. With the rain drenching the plot, they’ve been essential in keeping me dry. It seems we’ve had more downpours than sunshine this month, and it’s left me in a battle with mud. However, when the sun does shine, I’ve really appreciated the time outdoors.
With the threat of frost, we’ve been busy harvesting, particularly the winter squash. The girls were very excited to pick their pumpkins. Now we’ve got to hope we can store them until Halloween. The squash patch really went wild and has produced far more than anticipated. Some of the squash have been gifted to family and friends, and others are fast being consumed. Soup season has definitely begun! There’s something wonderfully comforting about coming in from a wet, chilly day to a steaming bowl of homegrown goodness.
A few of our more unusual crops have been picked this year - a melon and sweet potatoes. The melons were a big hit with the girls. They’ve been watching them gradually swell for weeks so we’re really excited to finally eat them. It was perfectly juicy and fragrant.
I also decided to dig the sweet potatoes as the leaves were burning off with the early frosts. This really was an experiment: I had planted three different varieties of sweet potato vine. Whilst there were plenty of tubers, some were rather small and many were an interesting shape. They probably could have benefitted from a few more weeks of sunshine. I’m considering giving them a go next year but perhaps with a little cover to keep them warm.
Alongside the harvest, we’ve begun the inevitable clear down. It feels bittersweet, pulling up plants, but it’s also a chance to reflect and plan for the year ahead. I’ve been making notes, thinking about what worked and what didn’t, and jotting down ideas for new crops to try next season.
The apple tree has been another highlight of the month. We’ve been picking the last of the apples before I give the tree a much-needed prune. They’ve been crisp and sweet, and perfect for eating but they’ve also proved good for baking too. The girls and I have spent a few afternoons making apple crumbles and cakes, and I’ve started preserving the surplus.
Apple chutney and sweet chilli jam have been the stars of this year’s preserving efforts so far, with jars stacking up on the kitchen shelves. There’s nothing quite like knowing we’ll be enjoying the fruits of this year’s labour well into the winter. Although having shared a few jars of sweet chilli jam at a dinner party, we’ve had requests for some from others - they may not last the winter.
The borlotti beans began to dry on the plants and so we picked them early in the month on a sunny day to avoid them rotting in the wet. Shelling the beans and seeing the speckled beans was particularly exciting. Podding beans brings back so many childhood memories and I’m really enjoying establishing these family traditions that formed so much of my childhood.
September may feel like the beginning of the end of the growing season, but it’s also a time for abundance. The pantry is filling up with preserves and the squash are stacked high. The winter crops are starting to come into their own, and the change of flavours are appreciated. It’s all about taking advantage of the breaks in the weather and when there are none, braving it in waterproofs.
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