Gardening expert Benedict Vanheems has shared the seeds you need to plant in September to ensure a bountiful harvest in the winter months
Michael Moran and Samantha Mallac
07:56, 08 Sep 2025
Planting certain seeds in September can result in a wonderful winter harvest, says expert(Image: Jordan Lye via Getty Images)
Gardening enthusiasts are being urged to plant certain seeds this month for a plentiful winter harvest. Benedict Vanheems of the GrowVeg YouTube channel, says there’s an array of vegetables suitable for sowing now, but stresses the importance of not delaying.
In his video ‘You must sow these seeds in September’, he introduces a variety of Asian greens that bring a fresh zest and interesting textures to winter dishes such as salads and stir-fries.
He recommends sowing mizuna, mibuna, komatsuna, and mustards in September, noting: “The great thing about these leafy lovelies is that they don’t mind being sown at this slightly cooler time of the year.” He added: “They will grow away quickly to give a harvest in a few months’ time.”
Benedict explains that the sowing process for these Asian greens is quite similar. He prepares a tray with newspaper, fills it with sieved, multipurpose compost, and then creates several small indentations for the seeds.
After placing three or four seeds into each depression, he emphasises the importance of labelling, especially when sowing four different types of leaves in one tray, reports the Mirror.
Mizuna seedlings planted in a field(Image: y-studio via Getty Images)
He also mentions that these plants may need protection from frost and suggests that those with a greenhouse should place their trays inside, making sure there’s enough room between the seedlings to allow for ample sunlight as they grow.
When planting outdoors, it’s essential to ensure your plants have sufficient protection against frost. Choose the warmest and sunniest spot in your garden for your vegetable patch, ideally placing it against a south-facing wall.
In case of an expected overnight frost, protect your seedlings with a layer of old newspaper, horticultural fleece, or a garden cloth or tarpaulin.
Benedict also points out that certain greens, such as Lamb’s Lettuce, American cress, and claytonia (often known as winter purslane), are hardy enough to survive even in cooler weather.
He shares an interesting tip about claytonia, noting: “When the tiny, ever-so-delicate white flowers appear in spring, you can eat those too.”
So what can you make from these delicious vegetables? Well, food blog ‘Running to the kitchen’ has a mizuna salad recipe that combines mizuna with raisins sunflower seeds and a delicious homemade dressing.
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