October is an important month for gardening. While the last of the sun is fading and the days are getting shorter, it’s the best time to prune plants, tidy up and prepare for next spring. Many gardeners will be busily planting bulbs in October ready for spring but there are other things that can be planted now. Some herbs, fruits and vegetables need to be sown in October so they produce an abundance of delicious leaves and plump vegetables in the coming months.
Most fruit and vegetables will be ready to harvest in the spring or summer, but some crops will produce a plentiful harvest in the winter. From bare-root fruit trees to herbs, onions, and cauliflower, these are the crops to sow now.
Vegetables and herbs to sow in October
Salad leaves
Salad leaves can be sown in greenhouses and cold frames throughout the winter months, with ‘Winter Gem’ being a particular favourite.
According to Thompson & Morgan, varieties such as ‘Arctic King’ and Corn salad (lamb’s lettuce) ‘Favor’ can be sown directly into the ground.
Winter salad mixes are the easiest to grow and may even produce a small crop before winter sets in.
Broad beans
Broad beans need to be sown now so they can be harvested from May to August next year.
They will start growing now, before then going dormant in winter and bursting to life again in spring.
These can be sown directly into the soil or put in trays ready to be planted outside in a few weeks.
Basil, dill, chives and parsley
These herbs can be sown now and grown on windowsills indoors throughout the winter months for a continuous crop of delicious herbs.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be sown now, ready for harvest in July and August.
The experts at Thompson & Morgan suggest keeping the plants in a cold frame until the spring. In spring, the cauliflower can then be planted outside.
Garlic
Perfect for adding flavour to otherwise bland dishes, garlic is a household staple in the UK.
The popular crop needs to be sown now, ready for harvest from June to August.
Simply plant garlic cloves into trays, small pots, or outside in October to allow them to start growing before winter.
Onions
Autumn onion and shallot sets can be planted now for an early harvest next summer.
Thompson & Morgan recommends planting the varieties ‘Centurion’ and ‘Senshyu’ for “uniform onion bulbs with good flavour.”
Onions do require a lot of water, so it’s important to check the soil’s moisture levels regularly.
Fruit
Bare-root fruit trees
Autumn is the best time to plant bare-root fruit trees. If you don’t have a lot of space, you can plant dwarf varieties, but if you do have space, there are plenty of apple, pear, currant, and blackberry varieties you can plant in your garden.
Apples and pears will be ready to harvest from August to November, currants and gooseberries from June to August and blackberries from August to October.
Blueberries
Blueberries are best planted in October when the ground is still warm and moist.
The plant will become established just before temperatures cool and winter begins.
Blueberries can be planted directly into the ground or in containers.