What to sow and grow in October

Plant up borders and containers with spring flowering bulbs this month
Image: Narcissus 'Tete-a-Tete' from Thompson & Morgan

October's crisp autumnal days bring changing colours, longer nights, and the occasional frost. If you grow fruit and veg you're probably still harvesting and storing this year's crops, and there's plenty to be getting on with in the garden this month.

Here's what you should be sowing and growing in October:

Flowers to sow and grow

Start aquilegia, such as 'McKana Giants Mixed', now for stunning summertime scenes
Copyright: Visions BV, Netherlands

• Start hollyhock seeds, such as ‘Creme de Cassis’ undercover now. Pot up seedlings and over-winter in a cold greenhouse or cold frame.
• Sow sweet peas and place them in the cold frame over winter for planting out in the spring.
• Sow Aquilegia vulgaris in a cold frame ready to plant out next spring.
• Oriental poppy seeds can be sown into pots and placed in a cold frame over winter.
• Sow Hellebore ‘Winter Flowering Hybrid Mix Improved’ seeds in pots in a cold frame. Germination can be slow, so be patient!

Direct sow outdoors

• There's still time to direct sow hardy annuals such as cornflower seeds, Limnanthes douglasii (poached egg plant) or annual poppies, like ‘Applegreen’, and larkspur ‘T&M Improved’. They'll flower earlier next year if sown now.
• Sow wildflower seeds directly in the ground now to attract bees and butterflies next year.

Plant outdoors

• Plant daffodil bulbs, allium bulbs and crocus bulbs for a glorious spring display. Dot them through borders, or to naturalise in grass. For more information, read our article on 'how to plant and grow bulbs, corms and tubers'.
• Plant out any perennials & biennials you've grown from seed this year.
• Plant hardy bedding such as wallflowers, Bellis perennis, primulas and winter pansies for a fantastic spring display.
• If your summer containers are looking past their best, re-plant them with fresh winter bedding plants. For winter plant ideas take a look at our 'How to plant up hanging baskets, flower pouches and containers' article.
• This is the ideal time to plant clematis. Try ‘Kokonoe’ for large purple double blooms in summer, or Clematis armandii for highly scented flowers in early spring.

Herbs & vegetables to sow and grow

Remember to directly sow winter lettuce, like 'Arctic King', for early spring harvesting
Copyright: Garden World Images

• Sow winter salad, and grow in greenhouses, cold frames or cloches throughout the winter. Lettuce 'Winter Gem' can be sown from September to January in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame.
• Herb seeds such as basil, dill, chives, and parsley can be sown now and grown on your windowsill throughout the winter.
• Sow spring onion 'Performer' under cloches — they'll be ready to start harvesting in the spring.
• Sow cauliflower 'All the Year Round' and keep the plants in a cold frame until the spring.

Direct sow outdoors

• Sow winter lettuce such as 'Arctic King' directly into the ground this month.
• Winter-hardy pea 'Meteor' can be directly sown now for cropping next spring.
• Direct sow green manures like ‘Buckwheat’ over empty beds and plots for a cheap and easy way to increase your soil fertility.
• Sow broad bean 'Aquadulce Claudia' outdoors for the earliest crops next year.
• Corn salad (lamb's lettuce) ‘Favor’ is a fully hardy crop which can be sown this month for cropping throughout autumn and winter.

Plant outdoors

• Plant autumn onion and shallot sets now for an early harvest next summer. Try ‘Centurion’ and ‘Senshyu’ for uniform onion bulbs with good flavour.
• Browse through our autumn planting vegetables — if planted this month you should get bumper crops next summer. 
• Sow autumn planting garlic sets this month. For something more unusual try growing elephant garlic for large bulbs that are perfect for roasting!
• Plant out spring cabbages, like traditional ‘Durham early’, for harvesting in February onwards.
• Plant out ornamental kale, such as ‘Jardin Mixed’ now for ‘cut and come again’ leaves throughout winter and into spring. The bright purple leaves are sure to bring colour to the winter veg patch!
• Plant out winter lettuces.
• Plant rhubarb crowns and asparagus crowns into rich, fertile soil.

Fruit to sow and grow

Make sure you have acidic soil for blueberry plants to thrive and grow
Image: Blueberry 'Bluecrop' from Thompson & Morgan

• Now's the perfect time to order strawberry runners to plant up a strawberry patch for cropping next year.
• Plant blueberry plants. Make sure you have an acid soil or alternatively grow them in pots of ericaceous compost.
• Autumn is an ideal time to plant bare root fruit trees. See dwarf varieties that are ideal for a balcony, or some larger rootstocks for starting your outdoor orchard — either way get ready to enjoy delicious homegrown fruit straight from your garden or allotment.

Other plants to grow:

• Plant bare root ornamental trees and shrubs this month, avoiding waterlogged soil. Check out our list of trees for small gardens if you’re stuck for choice. 
• This month is an ideal time to plant bare root evergreen and semi-evergreen hedging plants. Choose evergreen hedging for year round screening and native hedging to provide a habitat and food source for wildlife too!

Keep one step ahead — what to order this month

Order blackberries now before the first frost hits
Image: Blackberry 'Thornless Evergreen' from Thompson & Morgan

• Order spring flowering bulbs now — and maybe treat yourself to a bulb planter to make the job of planting easier!
• Order raspberry canes and blackberries to start planting next month.
• If you haven't done so already, order hedging for planting out next month. Browse our collections of colourful hedging, fast growing hedging, slow growing hedging, and tall hedging plants for planting inspiration.