"Here's to October" - what seeds to keep sowing

“The end of the summer is not the end of the world. Here’s to October…”
A. A. Milne, A Word for Autumn

I rather like that thought. October can feel like the end of the gardening year, particularly once the evenings draw in and the weather turns colder. There is still plenty to sow and plant, particularly if you choose hardy varieties that can cope with the colder months. Some of the things I could sow now would provide leaves and vegetables through winter, while others quietly sit waiting for spring before bursting into life.

So, here’s what I’m planning to sow and plant in my garden this October.

Winter Vegetables

Turnips, spinach, winter salad leaves and hardy varieties of broad beans and peas are all high on my October agenda. The trick is to choose varieties that are happy with cooler temperatures. I particularly like winter lettuce ‘Arctic King’, which is bred to withstand cold conditions and can provide tasty salad leaves.

For broad beans I shall sow ‘The Sutton’ a dwarf variety suitable for my second raised bed now I’ve cut down the green manure. Though ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ is the most popular variety for autumn sowing. Both are reliable hardy varieties that can be sown in autumn for an early crop the following year.

Peas ‘Meteor’ and 'Douce Provence' are hardy early varieties and, although I wouldn’t expect lots of growth during the depths of winter, getting plants established before the really cold weather gives them a head start when spring arrives. Sowing now, things can look stagnant all winter, but the sudden burst of spring growth makes the wait entirely worth it.

Onions, Shallots and Garlic

October is also a good time to plant autumn onion sets and shallots.

I like the idea of getting these into the ground while there is still some warmth in the soil. They have time to establish their roots before winter really sets in, then they can get going again as the days lengthen. The reward is an earlier summer harvest.

And then there’s garlic.

Technically, garlic isn’t sown from seed, you plant individual cloves. Autumn planting gives the cloves the cold period they need to develop properly into bulbs.

If you fancy something a little different, you can even grow green garlic.

Instead of spacing cloves out to produce large bulbs, plant them much more closely together and harvest them young in spring. The result looks rather like a spring onion but has a lovely mild, sweet garlic flavour. It’s a great little addition to stir-fries, salads and spring dishes.

Winter Salads under Protection

When we had the polytunnel, we regularly sowed winter salads such as lamb’s lettuce, rocket, mizuna and mustard greens. There was nothing quite like being able to wander out on a cold winter's day and come back in with a handful of fresh leaves.

I don’t have the polytunnel anymore, so I’m having to be a little more inventive.

If it isn’t too windy, I’m planning to cover my raised bed. I’ve found that just a little protection from hard frosts can make a surprising difference. I can keep picking fresh leaves through the winter, quick-growing oriental leaves such as Giant Red Mustard and Oriental Ruby Streaks. They don’t just taste good – those deeply textured purple-red leaves look gorgeous in a winter salad.

Herbs I like to sow in October

I’ve also learned that some herbs prefer the cooler months. Parsley is one I regularly sow in October. It can be notoriously slow to germinate, so patience is definitely required, but once it gets going it can provide leaves through the colder months. I’ve also had success with coriander and chervil at this time of year. Both appreciate cooler conditions and are less inclined to bolt than they can be during the heat of summer.

And if you’re short of outdoor space, there’s another option...

Bring the Garden Indoors

October is a great time to start a little indoor growing project on a bright kitchen windowsill.

For something almost ridiculously quick, try sprouting seeds such as alfalfa, fenugreek or mung beans in a simple jar. Or sprout salad pea 'Serge' for soft leaves and tendrils. They grow incredibly quickly and make a useful addition to salads and sandwiches. Likewise you can also grow mustard and cress on damp kitchen paper or a thin layer of compost. Within days you can have your own little fiery sandwich topping!

If you have a heated propagator or a particularly warm, bright south-facing windowsill, you could experiment with some crops that would normally be started later in the year. It’s a good way to get a head start, although light levels can become the limiting factor as the days get shorter. For a slightly longer-term windowsill project, try basil, chives, dill or parsley in small pots. Just make sure they have plenty of light and warmth.

It might not replace the summer vegetable garden, but it certainly keeps me connected with growing when the weather outside is doing its best to keep me indoors.

Flowers to Sow in October

It isn't just vegetables that get my attention in October.

One of my favourite autumn sowings are sweet peas. I start mine in pots outside in a sheltered corner and plant them out in spring. There is something very satisfying about sowing those little seeds in autumn and watching them develop into strong, sturdy plants ready to get away quickly once spring arrives. They can also give me earlier flowers than spring-sown plants.

Wallflowers are another excellent choice for autumn sowing. They make sturdy plants over winter and reward you with that wonderful burst of colour and fragrance when spring arrives. Hardy annuals such as cornflowers, calendula and larkspur given the right conditions, get a head start and can flower earlier and more strongly than those sown in spring.

The only problem?

The slugs and snails seem to think my carefully nurtured seedlings are their personal buffet!

My October Sowing Tips

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that soil conditions matter as much as the calendar. October in my garden can mean heavy, wet soil, and that isn’t always ideal for germination. If the ground feels too cold and claggy, I won’t force the issue. Instead, I’ll sow into modules or pots and give the seedlings a chance to establish before planting them out.

I also use fleece, cloches and other simple protection when necessary. You don't need a fancy greenhouse or polytunnel to extend the growing season; sometimes a little protection from wind and frost is all that’s needed.

Don’t forget that seeds sown in October may germinate much more slowly than those sown in spring. That’s perfectly normal. Some may sit quietly through winter, waiting for the right conditions before they really get going.

Here’s to October!

I have broad beans and peas to get started, garlic and onions to plant, winter salads to keep me supplied with fresh leaves and herbs to sow for those colder months.

Then there are the sweet peas, wallflowers and hardy annuals quietly preparing themselves for spring. The garden might be slowing down, but it certainly isn't stopping.

And I rather like the thought that while I’m tucked up indoors with a cup of tea, there are seeds and plants outside quietly getting on with the job of preparing for next year.

What will you have with your cuppa?