Welcome to City Blooming: Embracing September's Harvest & Prep 🍂

Hello, city & urban gardeners, Cassie here, welcoming you to the September edition of the City Blooming newsletter.

As the vibrant energy of summer begins to gently transition, September ushers in a beautiful period of both rich harvests and thoughtful preparation in our city gardens across the U.S. It's a month to savor the last of the warm-weather crops from your patio plants and vertical gardens, while also looking ahead to cooler-season plantings. This transitional time is perfect for optimizing your small urban garden spaces for continued productivity and beauty.

At City Blooming, we're dedicated to helping you make the most of every square inch, every season. This September, we're excited to share insights on:

• Savoring Late Summer Abundance: Tips for harvesting your lingering summer vegetables and herbs, and creative ways to use them in your kitchen before the chill sets in.
• Prepping for Fall Plantings: Guidance on what cool-season crops, like leafy greens and root vegetables, can be planted now to extend your harvest well into autumn, suitable for both containers and garden beds.
• Autumn Container Garden Refresh: Ideas for updating your balcony and patio containers with fall-friendly plants like mums, ornamental kale, and pansies to add a touch of seasonal color.
• Sustainable Garden Cleanup: Practical advice on clearing out spent plants, composting, and enriching your soil for healthier future growth, contributing to the overall well-being of your urban oasis.

We have posted some exciting new articles. To view these and others, please scroll down our home page at City Blooming until you get to the Latest Posts section.

We are excited to share this month's advice, tips, and tricks for Fall Vegetables & Cover Crops

1. Plant Cool-Season Veggies for a Second Harvest​
As summer crops fade, use the freed-up space to plant a second round of cool-season vegetables. Think quick-growing options like spinach, radishes, arugula, and certain types of lettuce. These thrive in autumn's milder temperatures and can extend your harvest well into fall.

2. Incorporate Nitrogen-Fixing Cover Crops​
Once a bed or container is completely empty for the season, sow a cover crop like crimson clover or hairy vetch. These "green manures" protect your soil from erosion, suppress weeds, and naturally add nitrogen back into the soil, benefiting next year's plantings.

3. Prepare Beds for Winter and Spring​
Before freezing temperatures hit, clear out all plant debris to reduce overwintering pests and diseases. Lightly amend your soil with compost. If you're not planting cover crops, a layer of mulch will protect the soil from winter's harsh elements and enrich it as it breaks down.

4. Choose Cold-Hardy Varieties for Extended Production​
Select varieties of fall vegetables known for their cold tolerance, such as 'Winterbor' kale, 'Giant Noble' spinach, or 'Snowball' cauliflower. With a little protection (like a cold frame or row cover), these can often produce even after the first few frosts, offering a prolonged harvest.

Whether it’s through planting native flowers or learning sustainable watering techniques, City Blooming is here to support you every step of the way.

CITY BLOOMING SHOP OFFERS

As a token of our appreciation for your continued support, we’re offering you a discount on all our products.

Please click on our shop link below, choose your product, and when checking out, type the following coupon code into the order: CB THANK YOU 25

Whether you're enjoying the crisp air while tending to your flourishing containers or planning next year's layout, City Blooming is here to inspire and support your urban gardening journey through September's beautiful shift.

Wishing you a fruitful and colorful September!

Happy Gardening,

Cassie and Mark 🌷

​City Blooming​