October is a big month in the gardening calendar. It may seem, on the surface, that as the weather started to deteriorate and the nights drew in, there was much less to do in the garden, but that couldn't be further from the truth. October is the month to lay the groundwork for an incredible garden next year - it's the best month for planting a whole host of plants and vegetables.
So if you want to enjoy a beautiful, vibrant garden next year, then this is the month to get to work! We're going to be taking a look at all of the various jobs you can begin doing to help prepare your borders, beds and vegetable garden for the coming months.
What flowers to plant in October
This is a great opportunity to get plenty of Autumn bulbs in the ground, ready to burst forth from early Spring. There are loads of Spring flowering bulbs that can be planted in October, so we'll run through some of the most popular options now.
Daffodil bulbs
We'll kick things off with the king of the Spring bulbs - the daffodil! If you're planning a glorious Spring display, then make some room for these dazzling little beauties. You'll start to see them blooming from the early Spring, the first signs of the end for the long Winter months. Choose from a range of different styles, sizes and beautiful shades of orange/yellow, and get your Spring off the best possible start!
Tulip bulbs
Tulips are another staple of a British spring garden. Like the daffodils, they come in a range of types and sizes, but with a more varied array of colour. As such, they are great to use when you are planning your display - add whatever colours and sizes you need to make it all pop!
Snowdrop bulbs
Snowdrops are a great addition to any Spring garden. First of all, they look great, and as one of the first Spring bulbs to flower, they symbolise the rebirth of your garden. They develop proteins that help to prevent ice crystals from forming in their cells, which makes them immune to the cold of the late Winter. They are a great start to spring - they are easy to grow and early to bloom. Perfect!
Crocus bulbs
We'll stay with early Spring bloomers, with a quick look at the Crocus. The huge appeal of these stunning little flowers is how versatile they are. They come in all kinds of different colours and varieties, so you can pick the perfect ones for your garden.
Allium bulbs
These 'Ornamental Onion' bulbs will flower in late Spring/early Summer, and offer something a bit different to the other Spring bulbs we've looked at so far. Bright, vibrant flower heads, that make great cut flower displays, will start popping up from around May, and their seed heads will keep interest going right until the Autumn.
Hyacinth bulbs
We've always thought hyacinth bulbs are often overlooked when people are planning their garden displays, and that's something we want to put right. These stunning, bell-shaped flowers bring with them a wonderful, unmistakable scent, that you will love next Spring. Use them in beds or as potted plants - plant in well drained soil.
Sweet Peas
You can start to sow seeds and bulbs in October. Sweet peas are one of our favourites to grow - delicate little flowers that will brighten up your garden and delight a host of pollinators next summer. Just sow them in fertile soil - one seed to a 7cm pot - and then put them in a sheltered spot or a cold frame to protect them over Winter.
Also any perennials or biennials that you've grown from seeds - they can be planted out now. Also, consider our Wallflower Mix for a vibrant mix of colour.
What vegetables to plant in October
Take advantage of any clear soil in your vegetable patch by getting ahead of the game. There are plenty of veg plants that you can plant in October, which will hopefully give you earlier crops next year.
Broad beans
Broad beans will be dormant over Winter, but you can get ahead of the game now if you plant in October. This means that when the weather starts to get warmer again in the Spring, they will already have established root growth, so you may get the benefit of an earlier crop next year.
Spring cabbages
October is the month to start planting out your Spring cabbages that you have been growing in trays or pots from July or August. They are best planted in a sunny spot, and need alkaline soil, rather than acidic.
Onions
There are many varieties of onion that love to be planted in October. Autumn-planting onions will be the more hardy varieties, that can cope with the cold, dark Winter that is on the horizon. With the amount of rain you get at this time of year, they won't need much maintenance at all - you can just plant them and leave them to it!
Salad leaves
You can sow seeds for your salad leaves before the ground freezes - like with the broad beans, they'll become dormant over Winter, but your action now will be rewarded with an early crop next Spring. It's probably a good idea to cover them over Winter, or move pots into a greenhouse when the weather gets particularly cold.
Garlic cloves
Garlic cloves take a long time to grow, so you can get ahead of the game now before the cold sets in. By planting now, they will start to grow roots before winter, which will give them an advantage over spring-grown crops, and they'll, therefore, be ready to harvest in early summer.
What fruit to plant in October
The savvy gardener can save a lot of money at this time of year. This is the time that bare-root fruit trees will come on the market and at a much cheaper price compared to that of potted fruit trees. So you can pick up a bargain - by the bare root and get it planted now. Apples, pears, currents, gooseberries, damsons - there is a whole host of fruit trees to plant in October.
What to plant in October - conclusion
It's time to get out there for one last push before the Winter arrives! Get a head start on next year with a little bit of effort now, and you will reap the rewards next Spring. Have a look through our shop, we have a big selection of bulbs, vegetable seeds and other plant options for you to choose from. Get them in the ground before that first frost.
