Vegetable Seeds to Sow in October
October is all about the Autumnal harvests of Pumpkin and Squashes.
The morning chills are setting in, dew on the grass and frost will be just round the corner.
October is the time to plant Onions sets, autumn planting garlic and elephant garlic.
October is also the start of the period to sow Overwintering broad beans and peas.
Why not try our Veg Project this month for sowing Speedy Leaves in a Cauldron for Halloween.
Flowers – Brighten up your flowers beds and pots with pansies, violets and heather.
Join The Great Garlic Grow-Off!
It’s garlic season and we’re celebrating with a brand-new mini workshop and growing challenge!
The Great Garlic Grow-Off is your chance to learn how to grow your own garlic from clove to harvest, with simple, beginner-friendly tips to guide you through each stage.
You’ll also get a free Garlic Varieties & Growing Checklist to help you stay on track.
October Sowing in Beds
Sow Winter Spinach
Sow Giant Spinach or small Spinach leaves, it’s up to you! All you need to know if you want a steady supply of spinach all winter is Start Sowing Now!
Sow Overwinter Broad Beans
The advantage of sowing Broad Beans in October or November is an earlier harvest in June. It also gives you something to grow overwinter.
Sow Asian Greens
Bored of lettuce leaves this Autumn? Try sowing oriental leaves or Asian greens! Mizuna, pak Choi, choy sum, mustard leaves and more.
Planting in October
Planting Garlic
Garlic is a really easy vegetable to grow, it is also cold hardy and loves the frost. It is easy to leave and grow overwinter for bulbs to harvest in late June/July.
Plant Autumn Onion Sets
Onions from sets can be grown in autumn or spring. If your soil is too wet, start them off in cell trays and plant out later.
Have you tried Growing Elephant Garlic?
Elephant garlic is larger than normal garlic and can be planted with other garlic.
Jobs To Do in October
Winter is Coming & so is the Frost!
The nights are rolling in, it’s getting dark earlier and soon the temperatures will dip at night. Discover what vegetable plants need protection from the frost and cold.
Read: All About Frost
Buy Fine Mesh Netting or Fleece protection
If you need to protect your crops from frost, buy fine netting or horticultural fleece.
Enjoy the Autumn Blueberry leaf colour change
One of the best times of the year is autumn, if you have blueberry bushes, they’ll put on a fantastic leaf colour change including my favourite fiery red. Stop and admire their beauty.
The October Veg Garden
A great crop of Beetroot
Beetroot has been the unsung hero this year. My first crop failed in April but success from a sowing in July. Still harvesting it in October.
Carrots sown in Aug are Go!
Carrots sowing in August, took ages to germinate but now are all cylinders go! I’m looking forward to a great crop at Christmas.
Spring Onions
It’s been a while since I’ve grown winter spring onions and I’ve planted them next to the carrots and beetroot.
What you could be Harvesting in October
Come & get your Pumpkins!
It’s time to harvest Pumpkins before Halloween as Pumpkins don’t like frost. Cut the pumpkins off the vine and not the stem, store on a sunny windowsill to cure before eating or carving.
Lovely Luscious Leeks
Lush Leeks, it’s time to harvest them from October to March depending on your variety. Leeks are a sign of hope, strength and resilience as they are in the ground for at least 7 months of the year. Here’s how to Harvest a Leek.
Xmas Potatoes – Are they ready yet?
If you planted potato tubers in July or August and the plant leaves and stems are dying back, chances are your potatoes are ready to be harvested.
Pests & Diseases to look for in October
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and Snails appear in October when the ground is wet and the temperature is cool. They also love dead leaves, decaying matter and mulch. Try and clear these from the vegetable garden to avoid slugs moving in.
Onion Rot in the wet soil
Try not to plant onions in the wet soil as it can cause them to rot. Alternatives are plant in pots in the greenhouse or plant in cell trays and plant out later.
Whitefly on Brassicas
If you have whitefly on your cabbages, they’ll all fly up together when you lift the netting. They live on the underside of cabbage leaves sucking out all the goodness and create a sticky black mould. Wash off with water.
More Months – Seeds To Sow & Jobs To Do in the Vegetable Garden
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