October in the Garden

October brings a slower, cosier rhythm. The garden cools further, mornings are crisp and misty, and autumn colours deepen. It’s a month of harvesting, tidying, sowing, planting and preparing the soil for winter, while still enjoying the lingering beauty of late blooms. 

Autumn is now in full swing my favourite season!  

What to Do in the Garden in October 

• Lift and store root crops – Finish digging maincrop potatoes, carrots, and parsnips. Let them dry and store somewhere cool and dark. 

• Plant for next spring – Garlic, shallots and onions can go in now. Spring flowering bulbs like daffodils, muscari, crocus and hyacinth are ready to plant. (I usually save my tulips until November so temperatures have reduced further to help prevent tulip blight). 

• Sow winter salads – Hardy leaves such as spinach, rocket, and winter lettuces will grow through the colder months. I put some in in September and they are putting on a show already. 

• Sow hardy annual seeds – Sweet peas, cornflower, nigella, stocks, and lisianthus can be sown now for flowers next year. I started sowing some in September. 

• Sow herbs indoors – Parsley, basil, coriander, and chives can be started indoors to enjoy fresh herbs through winter. 

• Tidy and mulch – Clear spent plants, add compost or mulch to protect soil and enrich it for spring. Be sure to leave seed heads for bugs to hibernate and take shelter from the cold.  

• Prune and protect – Cut back summer raspberries, tie in new shoots, and protect tender perennials from frost. 

• Think green manures – Sow clover, mustard, or rye to improve soil structure over winter. 

  
  

What Can Be Harvested

• Vegetables 

  • Tomatoes, chillies, and courgettes (the last of the late crops) 

  • Pumpkins and squash 

  • Carrots, beetroot, parsnips, and leeks 

  • Cabbage and kale 

    
    

• Fruits 

  • Apples, pears, and late plums 

  • Blackberries and autumn raspberries 

  • Damsons and medlars 

    
    

• Herbs 

  • Parsley, chives, thyme, and sage 

  • Rosemary and bay leaves for drying 

  • Mint, still growing strong in sheltered spots 

Final Thoughts 

October is a month of reflection in the garden. It’s a gentle pause between the harvest’s end and winter’s arrival. There’s joy in gathering the last fruits and preparing for seasons to come. It’s a time to savour the colours, textures, and quiet magic of autumn. 

All my love, love from Donna 🌷