Grow Your Own in October
In my “Grow Your Own month-by-month” series I will share with you a handy to do list, a list of fruits and vegetables you can harvest and a list of fruits and vegetables you can plant for that specific month.
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WHAT TO DO IN YOUR KITCHEN GARDEN IN OCTOBER
As autumn draws in and the days get shorter and colder, you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s not a lot to do in October or the coming months. But, there is still plenty you could get on with.
JOBS LIST
- Dig over heavy patches.
- Improve the condition of your soil by adding compost or well rotted manure.
- Use fleece, plastic or cloches if the weather gets particularly cold.
- Stake taller plants you expect to last throughout the winter (e.g. Brussels sprouts) to stop them being blown over in the wind.
PLANT NOW
Plant these crops while the days are still long and there’s warmth in the soil. It will get your autumn and winter crops off to a great start. Some of these crops will also last through to spring.
- bare-root apples, pears and other fruit trees fruiting shrubs such as blackcurrants and gooseberries.
- broad beans
- cauliflower
- fruiting shrubs such as blackcurrants and gooseberries
- garlic
- onions
- peas
- salad leaves
HARVEST NOW
Here’s what you can expect to harvest throughout October:
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Butternut squash
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Chard
- Courgette
- Fennel
- French beans, Runner beans and Broad beans
- Garlic
- Kale
- Lettuce and other salad leaves
- Leeks
- Marrow
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Squash
- Swede
SEASONAL RECIPE IDEAS
MORE AUTUMN RECIPE IDEAS
My autumn recipe collection is full of recipes that you can make with the vegetables you’ve harvested during October.
NEXT MONTH: NOVEMBER
Want to get ahead? Read my post on growing your own fruits and vegetables in November.