🥬 Sowing in September: Planting Guide

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Sep 18
2 min read

Updated: Sep 26

As summer fades and the air turns crisp, many gardeners in Scotland think the growing season is over. But don’t pack away your tools just yet—September is the perfect time to sow hardy crops that will see you through the colder months with fresh, homegrown food.

With Scotland’s cooler temperatures, high rainfall, and shorter daylight hours, choosing the right crops and using the right techniques is key to a successful winter harvest.

🗓️ Why Sow in September?

In much of Scotland, especially in the Highlands and coastal areas, the growing season is shorter than in the south of the UK. By sowing in early to mid-September, you can:

Get quick-growing crops in before the first hard frosts
Establish overwintering plants for an early spring harvest
Make the most of your garden year-round

🥕 What You Can Sow in September (Scottish Climate)

Here are reliable crops for sowing in September that can tolerate cold and wet conditions and still reward you with food through winter or early spring.

🥬 Winter Lettuce

Varieties: ‘Arctic King’, ‘Winter Density’
Sow under cloches or in an unheated greenhouse
Ready in late autumn or early spring

🌱 Spinach

Variety: ‘Winter Giant’, ‘Perpetual’
Hardy and fast-growing
Keep well-watered and pick baby leaves through winter

🥦 Spring Cabbage

Sow now for transplanting in October
Harvest in early spring
Protect young plants from slugs and pigeons

🧄 Garlic

Choose hardy varieties like ‘Vallelado’ or ‘Germidour’
Plant individual cloves 2–3 inches deep and 6 inches apart
Harvest in late spring or early summer

🧅 Overwintering Onions

Sets (not seeds) like ‘Radar’ or ‘Senshyu Yellow’
Plant in well-drained soil by the end of September
Ready to harvest by late spring

🥕 Winter Salad Mixes

Mizuna, mustard greens, corn salad (lamb’s lettuce), and rocket
Grow under fleece or in a cold frame
Cut-and-come-again throughout winter

🌿 Broad Beans (for Early Crop)

Sow hardy types like ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ in late September
Will overwinter and crop early next summer

🛠️ Growing Tips for Scotland’s Autumn & Winter Conditions

1. Use Protection

Use cloches, fleece, or cold frames to shelter young plants from wind and heavy rain
A small polytunnel or unheated greenhouse makes a huge difference in harsher areas

2. Improve Drainage

Scotland's wet climate can lead to waterlogged soil—add compost or grit to improve drainage
Raised beds work especially well in wetter regions

3. Watch for Pests

Slugs and snails love cool, damp conditions—use beer traps, copper tape, or wool pellets
Net brassicas to protect from pigeons and cabbage white butterflies

4. Don’t Overfeed