Gardener's Calendar for September 7–13, 2026: Harvesting and Preparing the Soil for Winter

UA NEWS 07 September 2026 10:56

The first half of September is traditionally the busiest time of year for gardeners. The period from September 7 to 13 is considered the ideal time to finish harvesting major vegetable crops, clean up the garden beds, and prepare the soil for the coming cold weather. The weather during this period usually remains dry and moderately warm, which facilitates the efficient completion of all planned agricultural tasks.

Harvesting the Late Crop and Preparing for Storage

The beginning of the week, from September 7 to 9, should be entirely devoted to digging up root vegetables and harvesting heat-loving vegetables. On dry, sunny days, late-season varieties of potatoes, carrots, beets, and table radishes are harvested first. Be sure to leave the harvested root vegetables in the garden bed for a few hours to dry, then carefully clean off any remaining soil without damaging the skin, and sort them before storing them in the cellar.

At the same time, you should completely harvest any remaining tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zucchini. It’s best to remove even green tomatoes from the plants before nighttime temperatures begin to drop consistently, as cold fog can trigger late blight. Harvested green tomatoes ripen beautifully in a dry, dark, and well-ventilated room at room temperature.

Soil Preparation and Green Manure Seeding

In the middle of the week, on September 10 and 11, focus on the beds that have been cleared of the harvest. After removing plant debris, the soil must be restructured and enriched with nutrients. During this period, it is recommended to perform deep loosening or digging of the plot while simultaneously applying organic and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, which will prepare the soil for spring planting.

Immediately after tilling the soil, it is advisable to sow the empty areas with green manure crops, such as white mustard, oil radish, phacelia, or winter rye. These crops quickly build up green mass, protect the soil from erosion, suppress weed growth, and naturally disinfect the soil of pathogens. Before the onset of sustained frosts, the green manure crops will have time to grow, after which they can be tilled into the soil or left as mulch for the winter.

Garden Care and Winter Planting

The weekend of September 12 and 13 is perfect for working in the fruit garden and preparing beds for winter crops. At this time, you should begin marking out and preparing planting holes for winter garlic and onions, although the bulbs themselves will be planted a bit later, depending on the weather. Preparing the beds in advance allows the soil to settle and compact naturally.

In the garden, perform sanitary pruning of dry and diseased branches on fruit trees and berry bushes, and apply preventive treatments to the crowns using protective products against pests and fungal infections. If the fall has been dry, be sure to water young trees and shrubs thoroughly to replenish moisture reserves, which will help them successfully withstand winter frosts.