Seasonal Advice for September: Recipes, Gardening, Folklore, Tips

September, in Old England, was called Haervest-monath (Harvest Month). This is the time to gather up the rest of the harvest and prepare for the winter months.

There are flowers enough in the summertime,
More flowers than I can remember—
But none with the purple, gold, and red
That dyes the flowers of September!
—Mary Howitt (1799-1888)

Calendar

September's name comes from the Latin word septem, meaning "seven." This had been the seventh month of the early Roman calendar, which is why its name means "seven."

Labor Day is always the first Monday in September. (In 2012, it falls on the 3rd). Canadians also observe Labour Day.

Hear ye! Hear ye! The 2013 Old Farmer's Almanac officially goes on sale on September 12! Purchase your copy of the 2013 edition here!

Did you know that Grandparents Day is celebrated on September 9? Honor your grandparents today—and every day!

In 2012, Rosh Hashanah is observed on September 17 and marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur is observed on the 26th.

Get ready for fall! The Autumnal Equinox falls on September 22 this year, marking the earliest autumn since 1896. At this time, there are approximately equal hours of daylight and darkness. See your day length.

The 29th is also Michaelmas, an ancient Celtic "Quarter Day" which marked the end of the harvesting season and steeped in folklore.

Recipes for the Season

We like to think of September as the month of homegrown apples. Here are a few recipes for this fruit of the season:
Apple Pie
Apple Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup
Baked Apples Filled with Sausage

For more recipes, use our Recipe Search.

Gardening

Correct any soil deficiencies you've noticed; healthy soil is crucial to healthy plants. See more on soil amendments and fixes.

Compost should be watered during dry periods so that it remains active. Learn more about composting.

Onions are nearly ripe when the tips of the leaves turn yellow. See our onion page for harvesting tips.

Sunflower seeds are best dried while still in the plant. See more about how to harvest the seeds.

If you're running out of ideas on where to store your crops, try using a root cellar.

See more gardening jobs for September.

Everyday Advice

If you're planning on baking some apple pies, try consulting our chart of the best apples for baking to help you.

Do you still have herbs left over? If so, use them to make your own herbal remedies.

Nature

Try this fun fall craft using apples: Apple Heads.

Help out the birds this coming winter by preparing some bird food for them.

Astronomy

The Full Harvest Moon falls on Saturday, September 29, 2012. What makes the Harvest Moon different? Find out here.

Enjoy the September night air and world of celestial objects above! Check out our monthly Sky Watch for the best events.

Folklore for the Season

Heavy September rains bring drought.
September blow soft, till the fruit's in the loft.
Married in September's golden glow, smooth and serene your life will go.
If the storms of September clear off warm, the storms of the following winter will be warm.

More Articles:

Seasonal Advice of the Month

Comments

I live in the Phoenix, AZ

reply

By George Heasley

I live in the Phoenix, AZ area. What can I plant in the fall season? Are there certain dates that are better to plant root crops?

In Phoenix, good fall crops

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By Almanac Staff

In Phoenix, good fall crops to plant from now through early November include cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chard, cucumber, kale, lettuce, onion (bulb and green) and radish. Contact your University of Arizona Cooperative Extension for more local detail; they often sponsor plant sales, too!