October is a great time to get ahead in the UK, and make early sowings and plantings of flowers, fruit and vegetable crops that will give you a head start on the year ahead. In the vegetable patch, you can make a start on onions, garlic, broad beans and peas, making excellent use of bare soil and giving you earlier crops next season. October also marks the beginning of bare-root planting season, so you can plant bare-root apples, pears and other fruit trees, along with fruiting shrubs such as blackcurrants and gooseberries.
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In the ornamental garden and cut flower patch, you can make final sowings of hardy annuals to overwinter for an early flush of spring flowers, along with perennials that need a cold spell to aid germination, such as primulas. Bedding plants, such as wallflowers and forget-me-nots can be planted out now, ready for spring displays.
There's still time to plant spring bulbs – find out more in our complete guide to planting bulbs.
Vegetables to plant in October
Peas
For an early crop of peas next spring, sow hardy cultivars like 'Avola' and 'Meteor'. Sow direct in 5cm drills in the ground or in guttering or root trainers to plant out in a couple of weeks. October is also a good time to plant out peas sown in root trainers or guttering in September.
- How to grow peas
- Buy pea seeds from Crocus
Salad mixes
Salad mixes are one of easiest crops to grow. From an October sowing, you may get a small crop before winter, but then the plants will enter dormancy and not start growing again until March, when they'll provide you with an early crop of fresh salad leaves. Sow direct in well-prepared soil or in pots. Cover with a cloche to protect from the worst of the weather, or move pots into a greenhouse or similar for shelter.
- How to grow salad leaves
- Buy salad leaves from Crocus
Broad beans
Sown in October, broad beans will germinate and put on some growth before entering winter dormancy. Then, as temperatures increase again in spring, they will romp ahead and provide you with a spring harvest a few weeks sooner than spring-sown plants. Sow direct in the soil or in multi-celled trays to plant out in a couple of weeks. Now's also the time to plant out broad beans sown in September.
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- How to grow broad beans
- Buy broad bean seeds from Crocus
Cauliflower
Early-summer cropping cauliflower cultivars like 'Snowball' can be sown now to overwinter, and then planted out in spring. Sow in multi-celled trays and thin out to one seedling per cell. Keep under cover such as in a greenhouse or cold frame, and then plant out in spring.
Garlic
Planted in autumn, garlic cloves will grow roots before winter and will get off to a head start on spring-sown garlic as soon as temperatures increase again, cropping by early summer. Choose a mixture of softneck and hardneck varieties for a good mix of flavours and uses. Plant into multi-celled trays or small pots for planting out later, if you have heavy soil.
- How to grow garlic
- Buy garlic bulbs from Crocus
Onions
Many varieties of onion can be planted as sets, now. Choose autumn-planting varieties like 'Radar'. Plant the sets into well-prepared, fertile soil. onions need a lot of moisture – you shouldn't need to water in winter but check moisture levels in spring and summer and provide extra moisture if necessary.
- How to grow onions
- Buy onion sets from Crocus
Flowers to plant in October
Phacelia
Hardy annual phacelia is one of the best plants for bees and other pollinators, and it makes a great green manure. Sow direct in well-prepared soil or in a seed tray for planting out in spring, for late spring blooms.
- How to grow phacelia
- Buy phacelia seeds from Crocus
Cowslips
Cowslips (Primula veris) are tough perennials that do best in a partially shady spot near water, such as on the pond edge. Fresh seeds need a cold period to germinate, so sow fresh seed in October in seed trays or multi-celled trays. Store outside but with protection from wind, heavy rain and squirrels, such as in a cold frame. Look for signs of germination in spring, and them pot on when seedlings are large enough to handle.
- How to grow primroses and primulas
- Buy cowslip seeds from Crocus
Orlaya grandiflora
This pretty Mediterranean native is commonly known as white laceflower. Sow in a seed tray in autumn to overwinter in a cold frame, for early blooms next year.
Wallflowers
Spring bedding plants like wallflowers can be planted out now, ready to bloom in early spring. Plant in well-prepared soil or pots. They work well with daffodils.
- How to grow wallflowers
- Buy wallflower plugs from Crocus
Honeywort (Cerinthe)
Honeywort makes an excellent cut flower, and its glaucous blue-green leaves are a great foil for other colours in the garden and vase. Its bell-shaped flowers are a magnet for bees, particularly the hairy footed flower bee. Sow seeds into individual pots or multi-celled trays now, and keep over winter in a cold frame, before planting out in spring.
Fruit to plant in October
Apples and pears
October is the start of bare-root planting season, where trees and shrubs are available to buy for a fraction of the price they are sold as potted plants. Choose from trees growing on standard or dwarfing rootstocks – some can even be grown in pots.
- How to plant a bare-root fruit tree
- How to grow apples
- How to grow pears
- Buy apple trees from Thompson & Morgan
- Buy pear trees from Thompson & Morgan
Currants and gooseberries
Currents and gooseberries are also available to buy cheaply as bare-root plants between October and March. Plant them as soon as they arrive, as this gives them the best chance of becoming established before temperatures fall. You can plant them in a temporary spot (known as heeling in) if you need to.
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- How to grow blackcurrants
- How to grow redcurrants and whitecurrants
- How to grow gooseberries
- Buy currants from Thompson & Morgan
- Buy gooseberries from Thompson & Morgan
As a seasoned horticulturist and gardening enthusiast, I bring a wealth of hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge to guide you through the intricacies of October planting in the UK. Over the years, I have cultivated a profound understanding of the optimal timing and techniques for sowing and planting various crops, ensuring a bountiful harvest and a vibrant garden throughout the seasons.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Bare-Root Planting Season:
- This refers to the period between October and March when trees and shrubs are available without soil around their roots. The advantage lies in the cost-effectiveness and the ease of handling compared to potted plants. In October, it's recommended to plant bare-root apples, pears, blackcurrants, and gooseberries.
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Vegetable Patch Planting:
- October is an opportune time to sow onions, garlic, broad beans, and peas in the vegetable patch. By utilizing bare soil, you set the stage for earlier crops in the upcoming season. For onions, varieties like 'Radar' are suitable for autumn planting.
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Ornamental Garden and Cut Flower Patch:
- Final sowings of hardy annuals, such as phacelia, and perennials like primulas, are done in October to overwinter for an early spring bloom. Bedding plants like wallflowers and forget-me-nots can be planted now for a vibrant display come spring.
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Salad Mixes:
- Salad mixes are highlighted as one of the easiest crops to grow. Sowing them in October can yield a small crop before winter, followed by dormancy until March when they provide an early crop of fresh salad leaves. Protection measures like cloches or greenhouses can be employed.
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Spring Bulbs:
- October is the last chance to plant spring bulbs. The article suggests referring to a complete guide for planting bulbs for detailed information.
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Specific Crop Guidance:
- Detailed instructions are provided for specific crops:
- Peas: Sow hardy cultivars like 'Avola' and 'Meteor' for an early spring crop.
- Broad Beans: Sow in October for a spring harvest, either directly in the soil or in multi-celled trays.
- Cauliflower: Early-summer cropping varieties like 'Snowball' can be sown now to overwinter.
- Garlic: Plant garlic cloves in autumn for a head start on spring-sown garlic.
- Onions: Plant onion sets like 'Radar' in well-prepared, fertile soil in autumn.
- Detailed instructions are provided for specific crops:
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Flower Seeds to Sow in October:
- Besides phacelia and primulas, the article mentions Orlaya grandiflora (white laceflower) and Honeywort (Cerinthe) as ornamental plants to sow in October for early blooms next year.
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Fruit Trees and Shrubs:
- October marks the start of bare-root planting season for apples, pears, currants, and gooseberries. These can be planted at a fraction of the cost compared to potted plants.
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Buying Resources:
- The article provides links to buy seeds, bulbs, and plants from reputable sources like Crocus and Thompson & Morgan.
Armed with this knowledge, you can make informed decisions to make the most of the October planting season in the UK. Happy gardening!
