The Chi Gardener

Today is September 29. Outdoor dates are University of Illinois Extension for northern Illinois. Indoor dates are the Old Farmer’s Almanac for Chicago. The Almanac puts tomatoes and peppers outside about three weeks sooner. This page waits for the Extension window.

September

Plant outside

April 5–30, then August 5–September 15SpinachSow
April 15–May 15, then July 15–September 15LettuceSow
April 15–June 15, then July 15–September 15MustardSow
April 20–June 15, then August 15–September 15RadishSow
Mid-SeptemberGarlicPlant cloves

Send your garden from My garden and this month will name the plants on that list.

Mid-month. Plant garlic cloves. That is the Illinois Extension date for northern Illinois, not mid-October.
All month. This is the best month to plant natives, shrubs, and perennials. Soil is warm and the air is cool.
All month. Take lawn out now if that was the job. Sheet-mulch it, or remove it and sow a cover crop.

Seeds and propagation

Divide or plant many perennials; collect seed.

Planting

Primary fall window for plugs, shrubs, and container trees.

Harvest and edibles

Harvest pawpaw, grapes, elderberries, hazelnuts, plums, and early nuts.

Water

Water fall plantings deeply and during dry spells.

Care

Install browse protection; manage suckers and runners.

Edible landscape

Best planting month. Where lawn is coming out, sheet-mulch it or sow a cover crop.

Year in the garden