Gardening expert Jess Caleigh has shared the six vegetables you can still plant in October for a spring harvest, as she says now is the ‘perfect time’ to sow them
Autumn has well and truly settled in, ushering in cooler temperatures and increased rainfall. Yet, despite whatever conditions nature decides to dish out, there’s still opportunity to tackle your final gardening tasks of the year.
Whilst it may be rather late in the season to plant most fruits and flowers, there remains time to sow some of your beloved vegetables to prepare for a winter and early spring crop.
Jess Caleigh declared now is the “perfect time” to sow six different vegetables that will be ready to harvest later this winter, or in early spring, as overwintering some plants will result in a more robust harvest next year.
“Wondering what vegetables you can plant in October?” she enquired at the beginning of her video. “Here’s what I’m sowing this month.”
The gardening expert proceeded to reveal the eight vegetables that you can still sow now in late autumn to ensure an early harvest next year.
Pak Choi
Leading the list is the Chinese cabbage, Pak Choi.
This proves an excellent vegetable to cultivate in late autumn, as it will provide you with produce before the year’s end.
“Great for a quick autumn harvest,” she informed her viewers.
You can cultivate pak choi in the UK during October by sowing seeds indoors or in a sheltered environment such as a greenhouse or polytunnel, which proves crucial for this late-season sowing.
Should you reside in a milder region, a final outdoor sowing might be feasible with protection like fleece or a cloche.
Winter lettuce
Winter lettuce comprises hardy varieties that can be planted from late summer through to late autumn, providing harvests throughout winter and into spring.
These can be cultivated outdoors or in sheltered environments such as cold frames or glasshouses for optimal results, and container growing is also possible.
Onions
Winter onions can be established by planting robust varieties (either as seeds or sets) from October through January, giving you a head start on the growing season.
“Onion sets for overwintering, they’ll be ready next summer,” she explained.
As an alternative for a more dependable beginning, start seeds indoors from mid-winter to early spring before transplanting outdoors in spring, or plant directly outside in spring once soil temperatures have risen.
Garlic
“Garlic – one of the easiest crops to plant right now,” she told her viewers.
If you want to guarantee not having to buy yourself any garlic from the supermarket, growing them yourself might be the thing for you.
Simply plant individual cloves with the pointed end upwards and flat end downwards, approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) deep with 15 cm (6 inches) spacing between each one. Plant during mild winter conditions, and if your soil is heavy and waterlogged, begin the cloves in modules with compost to avoid rot, then relocate them in spring.
Shielding the soil with mulch will also assist the cloves in developing roots.
Broad beans
Broad beans can be planted in winter by sowing seeds during October or November for an earlier harvest, or in late winter (February-March) for a somewhat later crop. “Overwintering [broad beans] gives you a stronger winter crop,” she explained.
Choose a hardy variety for autumn planting, and make sure the soil drains well to avoid rot.
You can plant directly outside in a sunny, protected area or inside in containers for overwintering in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame.
Peas
For the last vegetable on her October planting list, she revealed: “And peas, perfect for an early harvest next year.”
You can plant peas during winter for an early crop of shoots or spring pods, best done from October to November, but skip December and January.
Plant smooth-seeded, robust varieties like ‘Meteor’ straight into the ground or in containers indoors for shelter from weather and rodents.
