What Seeds to Sow in September in Temperate European Climates
September marks the beginning of the main autumn sowing season in temperate European gardens. Hardy annual flowers can be sown now for earlier blooms next year, while sweet peas, snapdragons and other cool-season flowers can be started under cover. In the vegetable garden, concentrate on quick salads and leafy crops such as spinach, rocket, radish, lettuce and pak choi for autumn and winter harvests.
Shop Seeds for September Sowing
Hardy Flowers to Sow Outdoors in September
September is an excellent time to direct-sow hardy annual flowers for earlier blooms next year. Sow into prepared, weed-free soil while it is still warm enough for germination. Young plants can establish roots and foliage before winter, then resume strong growth in spring.
Calendula
Calendula is one of the easiest and most dependable flowers for autumn sowing. Choose Fiesta Gitana Mix, Ivory Princess, Funky Stuff or Bull's Eye.
Browse calendula seeds →Cornflowers
Autumn-sown cornflowers establish before winter and generally flower earlier the following year. Choose Cornflower Blue Boy, Black Ball or Cornflower Mix.
Browse cornflower seeds →Nigella
Nigella is a hardy, easy-to-grow annual suited to cottage gardens, pollinator planting and cut flowers. Choose Nigella Miss Jekyll Skyblue, Miss Jekyll Rose or Nigella Sativa.
Browse nigella seeds →Annual Poppies
Sow poppies directly where they will flower because their roots dislike disturbance. Recommended varieties include Frosted Salmon Peony, Amazing Grey, Lauren's Grape, Dawn Chorus, Purple Peony and Black Peony.
Browse poppy seeds →California Poppies
California poppies can be autumn-sown in sunny, free-draining gardens, particularly in milder and more sheltered parts of temperate Europe. Choose Appleblossom Chiffon, Thai Silk Pink Champagne, Thai Silk Formula Mix, Thai Silk Rose Chiffon, Apricot Chiffon or XL Jelly Beans.
Browse California poppy seeds →Cerinthe Pride of Gibraltar
Cerinthe Pride of Gibraltar is an architectural annual with distinctive blue-purple bracts. Autumn sowing can produce strong plants and an earlier spring display.
Browse cerinthe seeds →Daucus Dara
Daucus carota Dara produces lacy flower heads in shades of burgundy, blush and cream. Sow outdoors in autumn for established plants and an earlier display the following year.
Orlaya White Lace Flower
Orlaya Grandiflora White Lace Flower is an elegant hardy annual for borders and cutting gardens. Autumn sowing gives plants a head start for spring and early-summer flowering.
Linum Grandiflorum Mix
Linum Grandiflorum Mix is useful for informal borders and naturalistic planting. Sow into free-draining soil for flowers the following season.
Browse linum seeds →Autumn-Sowing Tip
Choose a sunny position with free-draining soil. Autumn sowing works best when seedlings have time to establish before prolonged winter cold arrives. In colder or exposed gardens, sowing under cover may be safer for less winter-hardy varieties.
Flowers to Start Under Cover
Some flowers benefit from an autumn start but are more reliable when seedlings are protected from severe winter weather. Sow in trays, modules or pots and keep young plants in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or another bright, sheltered position.
Sweet Peas
Autumn-sown sweet peas can establish strong root systems and flower earlier the following year. Sow in deeper pots and overwinter in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Choose Lathyrus odoratus Cupid Pink or King Size Coronation Mix.
Browse sweet pea seeds →Snapdragons
Start snapdragons in trays or modules for overwintering in a bright, protected position. Recommended varieties include Twinny Peach, Night and Day, Grandiflorum Mix and Snapshot Coral Bicolor.
Browse snapdragon seeds →Pansies & Violas
September is still suitable for starting pansies and violas for cool-season and spring colour. Keep young plants cool, bright and protected. Choose Frizzle Sizzle Raspberry, Back to Black, Pansy Swiss Giants Mix, Inspire Plus Marina or Inspire Plus White.
Browse pansy seeds →Scabiosa
Scabiosa can be started under cover in autumn for stronger, earlier plants the following year. Choose Scabiosa Salmon Queen, Black Knight, Oxford Blue, Fire King, Fata Morgana, Summer Fruits, Paper Moon or Scabiosa Mix.
Browse scabiosa seeds →Bunny Tails
Bunny Tails (Lagurus ovatus) can be started in trays during autumn for an earlier display the following year. In colder regions, overwinter young plants under protection.
Overwintering Tip
Autumn-sown seedlings need plenty of light but very little warmth. Avoid keeping them in a heated room where soft, weak growth can develop. A cold frame or unheated greenhouse is ideal for many autumn-sown flowers.
Flowers to Start Now for Next Year
September can also be used to start selected perennials and longer-growing flowers. These are not intended to bloom this autumn. The aim is to begin germination and establishment for flowering in a future season.
Eryngium Blue Hobbit
Eryngium Blue Hobbit is a compact perennial sea holly with architectural blue flower heads. Autumn sowing allows seed to experience cooler winter conditions before growth resumes.
Browse eryngium seeds →Delphiniums
Start delphiniums during the cooler autumn period for plants that can develop further the following season. Choose Delphinium Mix or Delphinium Blue Cloud.
Browse delphinium seeds →Oriental Poppy Brilliant
Oriental Poppy Brilliant is a perennial poppy with vivid scarlet-red flowers. Autumn sowing gives the seed and young plants a long cool period before their main growing season.
Browse poppy seeds →Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks can still be started in September in mild areas or under protection for flowering in a later season. Choose Chater's Double Mix, Chater's Maroon, Chater's White or Hollyhock Nigra.
Browse hollyhock seeds →Lunaria
Lunaria, also known as honesty, produces spring flowers followed by decorative translucent seed pods. September sowing is best in mild areas or with some winter protection. Choose Lunaria Violet or Lunaria White.
Browse lunaria seeds →Wildflower Mixes for Autumn Sowing
Autumn is an excellent time to establish suitable wildflower mixtures. Sow into prepared, weed-free soil so seedlings can begin establishing before winter and flower earlier the following year.
Organic Flowers: Meadow Mix
A varied meadow-style mixture containing flowers and traditional field species. Suitable for larger beds, informal borders, wild areas and biodiversity-friendly planting.
Browse wildflower seed mixes →Organic Flowers: Wildflower Mixture
A colourful mixture combining several flowering species for a long seasonal display. Autumn sowing can provide earlier flowering the following year.
Browse wildflower seed mixes →Organic Flowers: Bee & Butterfly Mixture
A pollinator-friendly blend selected to provide flowers for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Sow in autumn for an earlier display the following year.
Browse wildflower seed mixes →Prepare the Ground First
Wildflower mixes establish best in an open, weed-free seedbed. Remove perennial weeds, rake the soil to a fine surface and sow thinly rather than scattering seed into established grass or dense vegetation.
Vegetables to Sow in September
September vegetable sowing in temperate Europe should concentrate on quick-growing salads and cool-season leafy crops. Sow small batches for autumn harvests, and use cloches, a cold frame or an unheated greenhouse later in the season where extra protection is needed.
Organic Spinach Renegade
Spinach Renegade prefers cooler growing conditions and is one of the strongest vegetable choices for September sowing.
View spinach seeds →Organic Rocket Esmee
Rocket Esmee grows quickly in the cooler conditions of early autumn. Sow little and often for repeated harvests of young leaves.
View rocket seeds →Organic Radish Cherry Belle
Radish Cherry Belle is a fast-growing crop that makes good use of empty spaces left by harvested summer vegetables.
View radish seeds →Organic Lettuce Oakleaf Salad Bowl
Lettuce Salad Bowl is a cut-and-come-again lettuce for autumn leaves. Sow earlier in the month outdoors or use protection as temperatures begin to fall.
View lettuce seeds →Organic Pak Choi Taisai
Pak Choi Taisai grows rapidly in cool autumn conditions. Sow directly or in modules and protect seedlings from slugs.
View pak choi seeds →Organic Welsh Onion Ishikura Long White
Welsh Onion Ishikura is a useful cool-season crop for beds, raised beds and containers. Sow in early autumn for later harvesting.
View Welsh onion seeds →September Vegetable Tip
Growth slows quickly as days shorten. Sow September vegetables promptly rather than waiting until the end of the month, particularly in northern or colder areas. Later sowings may need a cloche, cold frame or greenhouse to continue producing through autumn.
Herbs to Sow in September
September herb sowing is limited, but coriander and parsley can still be useful choices. Sow in containers, beds or under protection where they can continue growing as temperatures fall.
Coriander performs well in cooler conditions and is less likely to bolt rapidly than during summer. Later sowings can be protected with a cloche or greenhouse.
Parsley can still be started in early September. Germination can be slow, so maintain steady moisture and protect later sowings as temperatures fall.
Easy to Grow & Small-Space Friendly
Autumn sowing is not only for large gardens. Many September flowers, salads and herbs grow well in pots, balcony planters, raised beds and other small spaces.
Best Flowers for Pots & Balconies
Calendula Fiesta Gitana Mix, Frizzle Sizzle Raspberry, Back to Black, Snapdragon Twinny Peach and Sweet Pea Cupid Pink.
Best Vegetables for Containers
Lettuce Salad Bowl, Rocket Esmee, Radish Cherry Belle, Pak Choi Taisai, Spinach Renegade and Welsh Onion Ishikura.
Easiest Beginner Flowers
Calendula, cornflowers, nigella and annual poppies are straightforward choices for autumn sowing.
Easiest Beginner Vegetables
Radish Cherry Belle, Rocket Esmee, Lettuce Salad Bowl and Spinach Renegade are useful crops for first-time autumn vegetable growers.
September Gardening Tips
September is the start of autumn sowing rather than an extension of summer. Concentrate on hardy flowers for next year, quick cool-season vegetables and protected sowings that can be overwintered successfully.
Calendula, cornflowers, nigella and annual poppies can establish before winter for earlier flowers next year.
Sweet peas, snapdragons and other protected sowings need bright, cool conditions rather than indoor warmth.
Sow spinach, rocket, radish, lettuce and pak choi before growth slows significantly later in autumn.
Hardy annuals and wildflower mixes establish more successfully when young seedlings are not competing with established weeds.
Autumn sowing is more reliable in mild and sheltered gardens. Colder northern or exposed areas may need additional winter protection.
Shop Seeds for September Gardening
Explore hardy flowers, wildflower mixes, cool-season vegetables and herbs selected for autumn sowing and next year's garden in temperate European climates.