The calendar says fall, but the thermometer isn’t always on the same page. Late September into early October is that funny in-between season where the tomatoes still think it’s summer, the nights whisper frost, and you, dear gardener, are juggling what to save, what to store, and what to surrender.
The Great Plant Migration (and How Not to Bring Hitchhikers Inside)
Houseplants that summered happily on the porch don’t always come in alone. Before you carry them inside, flip those leaves and peek under them like you’re searching for loose change. Aphids, mites, and mealybugs love to sneak in under cover of foliage. Give your plants a gentle rinse or a mild soap wipe-down. Think of it as a spa day before they rejoin the indoor crew.
Don’t forget the soil: fungus gnats are the uninvited party guests of fall. Scrape off the top layer of dirt or repot if needed. And pro tip: give newcomers a week or two in “quarantine” before you introduce them to your ficus and friends. It’s the plant world’s version of keeping the sniffles out of school.
If you want to go the extra mile, neem oil is an excellent preventive treatment before bringing plants inside. It smothers pests and acts as a deterrent. Just be sure to test-spray one or two leaves first and wait a day. Some plants are sensitive, and it’s better to scorch one leaf than the entire plant.
Indoor Plant TLC
Once they’re back inside, remember: shorter days mean less light and slower growth. Translation? Cut back on water and fertilizer. Rotate pots so no one hogs the sunbeam, and if the air feels dry enough to chap your lips, your plants will feel it too. Pebble trays, small humidifiers, or a little misting now and then can keep spider mites from moving in. And if you spot gnats or whiteflies, sticky traps are your best ally—they’re basically the flypaper of the houseplant world.
Seed-Saving: Moldy Magic and Bucket Brigades
Now, let’s talk about that “moldy magic.” If you’ve ever wondered how to save tomato seeds (or cucumber, squash, pumpkin, melon, or eggplant), the trick is fermentation. Yes, you heard right—rotting on purpose.
Here’s the quick and dirty:
• Scoop seeds and pulp from a very ripe fruit.
• Add a splash of water, stir into a slurry.
• Leave it out for 2–4 days until a little mold blooms on top. Gross? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
• Rinse, pour off the floaters, and keep the plump seeds that sink.
• Dry them well, label them, and stash them in a cool, dark spot.
But not all seed-saving involves kitchen science. Flowers and wildflowers are much simpler: wait until the seed heads are dry and papery, then snip them off and drop them into a five-gallon bucket as you walk your property. Think of it as trick-or-treating for seeds. Later, crumble the heads between your hands to release the seeds. If you’re looking to create a naturalized wildflower area, you can even broadcast the mix directly where you’d like them to grow.
Between fermentation for the fleshy crops and a bucket walk for flowers, you can stockpile quite a seed library in one afternoon.
Your End-of-September Garden Checklist
• Plant quick cool-season crops such as spinach, lettuce, radishes, and kale.
• Pop in spring-blooming bulbs now while soil is still friendly.
• Rake and toss diseased leaves—don’t gift pests a winter condo.
• Prune out dead or sickly branches.
• Overseed and fertilize lawns to bounce back from summer.
• Move houseplants in, but give them a bug-check and test any treatments first.
• Keep frost cloths or old sheets ready for surprise cold snaps.
• Harvest root crops before a hard freeze locks them in.
