What to Grow with the Kids in September and October
Autumn is a great time to sit inside with a cup of tea and to watch the colours change from the comfort of your own living room. However, this isn’t much fun for kids who relish the outdoors! In the gardening calendar, autumn is a time to be tidying and preparing for next year. Tidying leaves away, cutting grass for the last time in a while, and trimming back any over-vigorous growth from the summer.
In terms of growing, it is the bulbs’ time to shine. Planting bulbs in September will ensure gorgeous flowering of beloved early spring favourites such as daffodils, snowdrops, hyacinths and crocuses. Spring/summer-flowering bulbs like alliums and lilies can be planted any time until the end of October. Tulips are better planted a little later, into November.
As well as bulbs, there are wildflowers. Native wildflowers are normally planted at this time of the year, as this is when the seeds are available from this year’s flowers. They also do well in the spring. Try our wildflower mixes in the form of Seedballs or Seedboms, as these can be easier for the kids to handle and grow (wildflower seeds can be tiny!)
(Image courtesy of Claire Coombs on Facebook of our Wildlife Mix)
Some of these are ‘traditionally’ planted in the spring, but planting them now, allows them to germinate and grow while the weather is not too bad, survive the winter then flower bigger, longer and earlier the following year.
Of course, if you don’t want to brave the weather, our indoor favourites will provide year-round growing fun and education!
September
Early-spring flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, snowdrops
Calendulas
Coneflowers (echinacea)
September-October
Spring- and summer-flowering bulbs, such as alliums and lillies
Seedballs – varieties including poppies, ox-eye daisy, bird mix, hedgehog mix, artist’s meadow
Seedboms – varieties including PollinatorBom
November
Tulip bulbs
All year
- Sarah Edgeworth
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