October is here – bringing with it the beautiful colours of autumn and the less beautiful cold weather! However, don’t put your feet up just yet, there’s still plenty to be doing in the garden or allotment. We’ve gathered up a list of jobs to do in the vegetable garden in October to keep you busy all month long.
What To Do In The Vegetable Garden In October
Harvesting
- Apples, pears and grapes are ready to harvest. You’ll know they’re ripe if they come away from the tree easily.
- Finish harvesting any final beans and peas. When you’re done, cut the plant away at ground level, however, leave the roots in the soil.
- Harvest pumpkin and squash before the first frosts. If you leave them outside, they quickly turn to mush!
- After harvesting cabbages, leave the roots in the soil. Then make a cut across the stem, this will encourage a flush of smaller leaves.
Growing
- Plant out your spring cabbages.
- Protect cauliflowers from the frost by wrapping the outer leaves around them with string.
- If you have plants that are half-hardy, move them into the greenhouse. If you don’t have a greenhouse you can protect them with fleece.
In The Container Garden
- Bringing plants inside? First check them for aphids or other pests.
- If you have tender plants move them into the greenhouse before the first frost.
- Set up your greenhouse heater if using one.
Other Things To Do In The Vegetable Garden In October
- Dig trenches and fill with manure if you plan on growing beans next year.
- Collect seeds from the garden to grow next year.
- Create a compost bin to break down dead plant material.
- If you have dry soil then give it one last watering before the ground starts to freeze.
To Conclude
Even though it’s getting colder, there are still plants to harvest and heaps of other jobs to do in the vegetable garden in October! The biggest threat this month is the frost, but your garden will flourish as long as you are well prepared.
We’d love to see photos of your garden this month, so please send us your photos on social media!
