September seasonal events and outdoor activities

The time of the year with the summer feeling yet the endless days give way to darkened evening.

Up from the meadows rich with corn,

Clear in the cool September morn

John Greenleaf Whittir

September – late summer or early autumn? Well, it depends on the weather. September can have the most pleasant weather, with clear hot sunny days (without the stifling heat of summer) and pleasant evenings however, the end of the month can herald autumnal wind and rain. September is regarded as the start of the farming year, with the harvest all but complete. September is also the start of the time for traditional feasts, festivals, and fairs. Modern-day carnivals and fairs rooted in the traditions of agricultural hiring fairs and feast celebrations of harvest home.

Dates, events, holidays and festivals.

September 2022

Seasonal, astronomical and nautical events

3rd August – 1st Quarter

4th September – Neap Tide

10th September – Full Moon, Harvest Moon

11th September – Spring Tide

17th August – 3rd Quarter

18th August – Neap Tide

23rd September – Autumn Equinox

25th September – New Moon

26th September – Spring Tide

Festivals and events, religious, traditional and sporting

1st – 4th September – Bournemouth Air Festival 2022

2nd – 3rd September – Spirit of Speyside, Distilled food and drink

2nd – 4th September – The Victory Show 2022

3rd September – The Braemar Gathering

3rd September – Kildale Show

7th & 8th September – Helitech Expo 2022, ExCel Exhibition Centre

8th September – Jersey International Air Display

8th September- Guernsey Air Display

10th September – Abingdon Air & Country Show 2022

10th & 11th September – International Causeway Airshow, Portstewart

10th & 11th September – Autumn Flying Meeting, North Coates Airfield

11th September – Ironman Wales

13th September – The World Black Pudding Throwing Championships

13th – 17th September – British Science Festival

6th – 11th September – RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show

9th – 18th September – Heritage Open Days

15th – 18th September – Mid-Wales 4 Day Walking Festival

16th & 17th September – Egremont Crab Fair & World Gurning Championships

16th – 18th September – Goodwood Revival

17th September – Pewsey Illuminated Carnival

17th September – Stokesley Show

17th & 18th September – Abergavenny Food Festival

19th September – NSA Wales and Border Main Ram Sale

24th Sept – 2nd October – Devizes Food & Drink Festival

25th September – World Stone Skimming Championships

30th September – 2nd October – Red Dragon Ride Festival of Endurance

TBA – Dundee Food and Flower Show

TBA – Matlock Bath Illuminations

TBA – Buxton International Festival

TBA – Camp Good Life

TBA – Lealholm Show

TBA – Castleton Show

Also see the Red Arrows UK display schedule 2022

Find more events and notable dates throughout the year


September seasonal Foods

What foods are seasonal in September.

Greens and leaves: Cabbage, Cavolo nero, Chervil, Lettuce, Mint, Pak choi, Radicchio, Sorrel, Spinach, Watercress.

Roots and other veg: Aubergine, Beetroot, Broad bean, Broccoli, Carrot, Celery, Celeriac, Courgette, Fennel bulb, Garlic, Globe artichoke, Kohlrabi, Lamb’s lettuce, Leek, Marrow, Onion, Parsnip, Spring onion, Peas, Pepper, Radish, Runner bean, Sweetcorn, Swiss chard, Tomato, Tuna

Meat: Beef, Chicken, Grouse, Goose, Guinea Fowl, Lamb, Pork

Fruit: Blackberry, Damson, Elderberries, Gooseberry, Loganberry, Pear, Plum, Raspberry, Redcurrant, Strawberry.

Seafood: Crab, Halibut, Salmon, Kipper, Mackerel, Oyster.

Exotics: Banana, Fig, Nectarine, Peach, Pomegranate.

Find out more about seasonal foods throughout the year with a guide to Seasonal foods.


In nature

The harvest of natures bounty


On the Farm in September

Harvest continues at full pace, remaining barley and wheat being cut. Straw bailed and removed or shredded in situ.

Whether lambs are sold as they finish or as store lambs for further fattening. Preparation for gimmer and draft ewe sales. Wean lambs.

Harvest Potatoes. Start harvest of beets.

Ploughing and harrowing (disc harrowing to quickly open compacted soil to reduce water runoff in heavy rains).

Drill oilseed rape, winter wheat and barley.

Find out more about what is happening in the Year on the farm


Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum)

Things to do in September

In the September garden

What to plant and sow

Gardening hints

Ipsum text

Out and about

Also, see the Out and about Blogs

Days and nights draw even.

 Colby Woodland Garden
 Colby Woodland Garden

Recipe of the month.

Savoury Crumble

This recipe can be enjoyed anytime for the next six moths, of yuo are considering what is seasonal. There’s not much variety in the vegetable department, however, all the ingredients are traditional all the way though to the end of April.

Although butternut squash is specified, any similar squash would be great, Crown prince for one, maybe even pumpkin for a slightly sweeter version. Leeks are ever present, but can be substituted for Onion if required. The other ingredients, well, pure winter warming comfort.

Ingredients

400 g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into 2cm pieces

2 tsp. vegetable oil

2 leeks, trimmed and sliced

5 rashers unsmoked back bacon, roughly chopped

For The White Sauce

50 g butter

50 g plain flour

700 ml milk

75 g mature Cheddar cheese

For The Crumble

175 g plain flour

25 g parmesan, finely grated

1 tsp. dried mixed herbs

100 g butter, chilled and chopped

Equipment.

Baking tray

Mixing bowl

Oven proof dish.

I trust you have saucepans and wooden spoon.

Preparation

Peel, de-seed and chop the squash into 2CM peices.

Clean and chop the leeks. Chop the bacon.

Preheat Oven to 190°C (170°C fan) mark 5.

Cooking

Mix squash, 1tsp oil and some seasoning on a baking tray and roast for 30min, until tender.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1tsp oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and cook leeks for 5min. Add bacon, turn up heat to high and fry for 5min, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown. Set aside.

Make the white sauce. Melt the butter in a large pan. Stir in flour and cook for 1min. Remove pan from heat and gradually stir in the milk until smooth. Return to heat and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the Cheddar.

Mix the cooked butternut squash and leek mixture into the white sauce. Check seasoning and spoon into a 2-litre ovenproof dish.

For the crumble, mix the flour, Parmesan, dried herbs and some seasoning in a bowl. Rub in butter using your fingertips until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Sprinkle crumble mixture over the filling and cook in oven for 50min, until golden and bubbling.

Serve with seasonal vegetables and some potatoes.

For more inspiration see the Food Blogs

September Jobs in the vegetable garden or allotment

General Jobs

Water plants that are still growing and young.

Ripen Squashes.

Sow green manures.

Turn Compost heap.

Cut down asparagus.

Harvest maincrop potatoes.

Sowing and Planting

Indoors and outdoors: Sow -Lettuces, Radishes, Rocket, Salad leaves, Spinach, Spring onions.

Plant: Cabbages (spring), Cranberries, Onion sets, Strawberries.

Harvest

Apples, Apricots, Aubergines, Beetroot, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chillies and peppers, Courgettes, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Endives, Fennel, Figs, French beans, Globe artichokes, Grapes, Kohl rabi, Leeks, Lettuces, Marrows, Melons, Onions, Oriental leaves, Pears, Peas Plums, Potatoes, Radishes, Raspberries, Rocket, Runner beans, Spinach, Spring onions, Strawberries, Summer squash, Swede, Sweetcorn, Sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Winter radishes, Winter squash.

Find out more about what is happening in the allotment or vegetable garden

Large field After the harvest
After the harvest

Activities, things to see and do in September

With lengthening days arise more opportunities to get out and about. To see what is happening in nature and the countryside. There is also a lot more to see as they year really starts to get going.

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September in pictures