Autumn is here already, but it only seems like yesterday that we were in the middle of Summer. Maybe due to the fact that in my region we hit temperatures in the region of 20°, considerably warmer weather in comparison for September last year. Here’s hoping that October turns out to be relatively mild.
Reading back on my post about October gardening jobs last year, I’m still feeling as sad as I was then knowing that the growing season is coming to an end yet again. This time however, I am excited about the plans that I can now put into place for my new smaller plot. Autumn is the perfect time for planning and preparing the ground, and indeed the structures on your plot, ready for the growing year ahead. However you spend your gardening time this Autumn, below is a list of some of the jobs that you can do to give yourself the best start to the season ahead.
Jobs to do………in October
- Continue to check all crops that you have stored. One bad vegetable could ruin the whole crop.
- Clear away yellowing leaves from winter brassica plants. This helps to reduce white fly.
- Collect leaves this Autumn to make into leaf mould for next year.
- Start to dig over vacant areas of soil ready for the winter. You can add layers of manure, leaf mould or compost over the soil and leave it until the winter has passed, turning the soil over in Spring.
- Continue to add compostable waste to your compost heap. Keep it covered to keep the heat in and help the decomposing process
- Clean and store tools, pots and containers as these are not generally needed as much during the winter months.
- Place squashes and pumpkins in a warm place to toughen the skins ready for storing in a cool place.
- Ripen the last few remaining outdoor tomatoes by placing in a brown paper bag or hanging in the greenhouse alongside a ripe banana.
- Give the greenhouse a through clean and make any necessary repairs
- Take hardwood cuttings of currant and gooseberry bushes
- Harvest herbs and dry or freeze for winter use
What to sow………in October
- Cress
- Chinese cabbage
- Winter lettuce
- Broad Beans
- Radish
- Hardy peas (under cover)
What to plant………in October
- Rhubarb crowns
- Garlic
- Onions
- Spring cabbages sown last month
- Asparagus
Crops in season now
- Apples
- Aubergines
- Beetroot
- Jerusalem Artichoke
- Early Brussel Sprouts
- Beetroot
- Cabbage Summer/Autumn
- Chinese Cabbage
- Calabrese
- Cauliflower (Autumn)
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chillies
- Fennel
- French Beans
- Garlic
- Kohl Rabi
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Marrow
- Onions
- Parsnip
- Peas (late)
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin and Squash
- Tomatoes
- Turnip
- Sweetcorn
Happy harvestin’
Debb
digginwivdebb 