What To Sow And Grow In October
Brighten up sunny borders with displays of crepsis |
October's crisp autumnal days bring changing colours, shorter days and the occasional frost depending where you are. If you grow fruit and veg you're probably still harvesting and storing this year's crops, but there's plenty more to be getting on with.
Flowers To Sow And Grow
Start aquilegia now for stunning summertime scenes |
In The Greenhouse/Cold Frame
- Sow crepis under cover in a cold greenhouse for earlier flowers next year.
- Start hollyhocks under cover now. Pot up and over-winter in a cold greenhouse or cold frame.
- Sow sweet peas and place them in a cold frame over winter for planting out in the spring.
- Sow aquilegia in a cold frame ready to plant out next spring.
- Oriental poppies can be sown into pots and placed in a cold frame over winter.
- Try sowing Hellebore seeds in pots in a cold frame. Germination can be slow, so be patient!
Direct Sow Outdoors
- There's still time to direct sow hardy annuals such as cornflowers, poached egg plant, annual poppies and larkspur. They'll flower earlier next year if sown now.
- Sow wildflower seeds directly in the ground now to attract bees and butterflies next year.
Plant Outdoors
- Plant daffodil bulbs, tulip bulbs and allium bulbs for a glorious spring display. Dot them through borders or naturalise them in grass.
- Plant out any perennials or biennials you've grown from seed this year.
- Plant spring bedding such as wallflowers, bellis, primulas and winter pansies for a fantastic spring display.
- This is the ideal time to plant clematis.
Herbs & Vegetables To Sow And Grow
Remember to directly sow winter lettuce for early spring harvesting |
In The Greenhouse/Indoors
- Sow winter salad leaves for growing in greenhouses, cold frames or cloches throughout the winter. 'Winter Gem' can be sown from September to January in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame.
- Herbs such as basil, dill, chives and parsley can be sown now and grown on your windowsill throughout the winter.
- Sow spring onion 'Performer' under cloches - they'll be ready to start harvesting in the spring.
- Sow cauliflower 'All the Year Round' and keep the plants in a cold frame until the spring.
Direct Sow Outdoors
- Sow winter lettuce such as 'Arctic King' directly into the ground this month.
- Winter-hardy pea 'Meteor' can be direct sown now for cropping next spring.
- Direct sow 'green manures' on empty beds and plots to help increase your soil fertility naturally over winter.
- Sow broad bean 'Aquadulce Claudia' outdoors for the earliest crops next year.
- Corn salad (lamb's lettuce) is a fully hardy crop which can be sown this month for cropping throughout autumn and winter.
Plant Outdoors
- Plant autumn onion sets now for an early harvest next summer.
- Try growing autumn planting vegetables like garlic - if planted this month you should get bumper crops next summer. For something more unusual try growing elephant garlic!
- Plant out spring cabbages.
- Plant out winter lettuces.
- Plant rhubarb crowns and asparagus crowns into rich, fertile soil.
Fruit To Sow and Grow
Make sure you have acidic soil for blueberry plants to thrive and grow |
- Now's the perfect time to order strawberry runners and plant up a strawberry patch for cropping next year.
- Plant some blueberry plants. Make sure you have an acid soil or alternatively grow them in pots of ericaceous compost.
- Autumn is an ideal time to plant many varieties of fruit trees. Get ready to enjoy delicious fresh fruit straight from your garden.
Other Plants To Grow:
- • Plant bareroot ornamental trees and shrubs – but always avoid waterlogged soil.
- This month is an ideal time to plant evergreen and semi-evergreen hedges.
Keep One Step Ahead – What To Order This Month
Order blackberries now |
- Order Spring flowering bulbs - and maybe treat yourself to a bulb planter!
- Buy pea 'Meteor' for an early crop next year.
- Order raspberry canes and blackberries.