This is the perfect point in the year to revel in the abundance of your vegetable patch, and set the stage for the next growing season. Read on to find out what you can harvest, sow, and plant now, along with some handy tips tailored to our unique Scottish climate.

What to Harvest Now

August and September are prime months for harvesting a variety of vegetables sown earlier in the year, these include:

1. Legumes - snap peas and broad beans should be plentiful and regular picking encourages more pods. 
2. Potatoes - early potatoes should already have been dug up and main crops, depending on planting out time, will be just about ready. 
3. Leafy greens - kale, spinach, and chard are in their prime. Pick the outer leaves first to keep the plants producing.
4. Onions and shallots - once the tops start to yellow, gently dig out the bulbs, laying them on a bench in dry weather to dry out.
5. Brassicas - early varieties of cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli should be ready for picking and enjoying. 
6. Root vegetables - beetroot, carrot, and turnip are ready to pull.

What to Sow or Plant Out

While the focus may be on harvesting, it is also a crucial time to think ahead about planting out and sowing:

1. Leafy greens - sow winter-hardy varieties of lettuce, spinach, and Asian greens like pak choi to provide fresh greens well into the cooler months.
2. Brassicas - plant out summer-sown winter cabbage, Brussels sprouts, purple-sprouting broccoli, winter cauliflowers, and kale. These thrive in our cooler climate and will be ready for winter harvest.
3. Root vegetables - sow turnips, radishes, and winter carrots for a late autumn yield.
4. Onions and garlic - autumn is the perfect time to plant onion sets and garlic to overwinter, ready to harvest next summer.

Essential Gardening Jobs

Keeping your garden thriving through the transition from late summer to early autumn requires some essential tasks:

1. Watering - despite our often rainy climate, ensure your plants get consistent moisture, especially during dry spells. This is particularly vital for crops growing in pots, or for those like pumpkins where the fruit is still ripening.
2. Feeding - give your plants a boost with a general-purpose feed. This is especially important for those still producing.
3. Weeding and mulching - doing this regularly helps retain soil moisture and suppress new weeds.
4. Tidying - removing spent plants and adding them to your compost not only tidies up the patch but also helps prevent the spread of disease.
5. Support and protection - stake any taller plants to protect them from autumn winds and consider using cloches or fleece to extend the growing season.
6. Harvesting and preserving - any crops you cannot eat can be stored or preserved.

Best Varieties for Scotland

Choosing the right varieties can make all the difference to veg thriving in our climate:

1. Kale 'Nero di Toscana': this variety is exceptionally hardy and thrives in cool weather, with flavours improving once the temperature drops.
2. Carrot 'Autumn King': perfect for late-season sowing, these heavy cropping carrots are sweet and store well.
3. Cabbage 'January King': a winter-hardy cabbage that is delicious and reliable.
4. Onion 'Senshyu Yellow': an excellent overwintering variety that produces large, sweet bulbs.
5. Garlic 'Solent Wight': well-suited to our Scottish climate, this variety is robust and flavourful.

Remember every season brings new opportunities and challenges. Whether you can be found pulling up carrots or sowing next year's greens, enjoy the process and the connection to the land. Whatever the size of your vegetable patch, may your harvest, or future harvest, be plentiful!