October has arrived, and our gardens are slowly winding down for the winter. If you have a vegetable patch, chances are you'll be wondering what you can plant at this time of year – so we thought we'd take a look at the best vegetables to sow in October.
It might be autumn, but there are plenty of jobs to do in the garden in October. And rather than let our vegetable beds and planters fall dormant over the colder months, learning what to plant in October will keep our gardens thriving for a little longer.
We've rounded up a list of the best vegetables to sow in October to keep your green fingers busy this month.
The best vegetables to sow in October
October is a surprisingly busy month for gardeners – from deadheading dahlias to planting daffodil bulbs, there's plenty to be getting on with.
'With a little planning and ingenuity, it's possible to keep the fresh produce coming from your plot by planting right now into the gaps you have created from picking your crops,' says Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries.
Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants, which he established after graduating with a Commercial Horticulture Degree from Writtle College, Essex in 1992.
It's important to note that autumn planting broadly falls into two categories – planting for a crop of fast-growing, tender baby veg to be harvested later the same year, or planting for an overwintered crop that will be ready early next year.
With that in mind, then, here's our pick of the best vegetables to sow in October.
Fast-growing vegetables for early autumn planting
If you're hoping to harvest your vegetables later this year (perhaps, say, in time for Christmas dinner), then these are the veg that you need to get planting:
1. Winter lettuce
Think salad is just for summer? Think again!
Christopher O'Donoghue, one of the co-directors at Gardens Revived, says that you absolutely can (and quite possibly should, looking at rising food costs!) plant winter lettuce varieties like 'Winter Density' or 'Arctic King' in the autumn.
'These lettuces are hardy and will continue to produce fresh leaves through the winter,' he adds. You can use something like the CHRISTOW Small Grow Tunnel from Amazon to protect them from the worst of the UK's weather.
'Lettuce 'Bronze Beauty' will add wonderful colour to your plate once grown to a good size,' adds heirloom seed company SheGrowsVeg.
Where to buy winter lettuce seeds:
- Crocus: A multi-pack of winter lettuce seeds
- Thompson & Morgan: 'Winter Butterhead' lettuce seeds
- Sarah Raven: 'Best Winter Mix' seeds
A gardener with over a decade of experience under his belt, Christopher set up Gardens Revived with his brother, Andrew, in 2018 to create a thriving family business. Together, they have worked on residential gardens, listed buildings and gardens, flower shows and large estates with some exceeding 70 acres – many with historical significance.
2. Winter radishes
Winter radishes are among the best vegetables to sow in October, as 'they will be ready in a matter of weeks,' says Morris.
Christopher, meanwhile, advises you keep an eye out for certain radish varieties, such as 'Black Spanish' or 'Watermelon', which develop a spicy flavour as they grow. They're just as great roasted as they are in salads.
Where to buy radish seeds:
- Crocus: Mixed radish seeds
- Thompson & Morgan: A wide selection of radish seeds
- Sarah Raven: A vast range of radish seeds
3. Winter carrots
We know, we know: you're too busy growing carrots from carrot tops at the moment. Still, it's always worth sowing some seeds, too – especially as carrots are a) excellent companion plants, and b) counted among the easiest vegetables to grow.
'Plant winter carrot varieties like 'Autumn King' or 'Sytan' in late summer or early autumn,' suggests Christopher.
'They can be left in the ground and harvested as needed throughout the winter.'
Where to buy carrot seeds:
- Crocus: Mixed carrot seeds
- Thompson & Morgan: Carrot 'Autumn King 2' seeds
- Sarah Raven: Carrot 'Purple Sun' seeds
4. Kale
Dark leafy greens give us a much needed vitamin boost over the winter months, so it's well worth taking the time to plant some now.
'Kale is a cold-hardy leafy green that thrives in winter,' says Christopher. 'Plant it in the autumn, and you can harvest its leaves throughout the winter months.'
Where to buy kale seeds:
- Crocus: Kale seeds
- Thompson & Morgan: A wide variety of kale seeds
- Sarah Raven: Winter Kale Collection
5. Spinach
Spinach is another fast-growing salad leaf, so it's definitely among the best vegetables to sow in October.
'Look for varieties bred for winter growth, such as 'Winter Gem' or 'Arctic King',' advises Christopher.
'They will provide you with fresh spinach leaves during the colder season.'
Where to buy spinach seeds:
- Crocus: Perpetual spinach seeds
- Thompson & Morgan: A variety of spinach seeds to choose from
6. Cress and alfalfa
Fast growing cress and alfalfa seeds are among the best vegetables to grow in October, even if you don't have any outdoor space! Simply plant them indoors on moist tissue, and cut your crop when it reaches an inch high.
Egg sandwich, anyone?
Where to buy cress seeds:
- Thompson & Morgan: Cress 'Extra Curled' seeds
- Crocus: Cress 'Common Plain' seeds
- Sarah Raven: Cress 'Curled' seeds
7. Turnips and spring onions
Morris has had some success with sowing turnips and spring onions in his vegetable garden over the early autumn.
'Planting sooner rather than later is certainly the way to go with this option,' he says, noting that 'the aim is to get an extra crop of tender young baby vegetables in double quick time while the weather and (most importantly) the soil is still warm.'
Morris adds that you can extend the season if you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse, cloches or a polytunnel (or even a sheltered south facing border next to a warm wall).
Otherwise, 'sow the seeds directly into the soil, there really is no need to start them in cell trays or pots first at this time of year.'
Where to buy turnip and spring onion seeds:
- Crocus: turnip 'sweetbell' seeds and spring onion seeds
- Thompson & Morgan: turnip 'golden ball' seeds and spring onion seeds
Vegetables for overwintered crops
You can get a head start on next year's harvest now if you start planting these vegetables in October.
1. Broad beans and peas
Broad beans and peas are among the best vegetables to sow in October, according to Monty Don.
'Sow ‘Aquadulce’ broad beans outside for an early harvest next May or June and sow sweet peas in pots and over-winter in a cold frame,' he writes on his popular gardening blog.
Be sure to choose a variety that’s suitable for autumn sowing (the seed packet will tell you this) and plant the seeds in October or November in good soil (not waterlogged). The seedlings will emerge within a few weeks.
Morris adds that these hardy veg 'won’t grow much more until the days start getting a little longer and less cold next spring, but by April they will be flowering and your harvest will be ready at least a month earlier than spring-planted crops'.
Where to buy broad bean and pea seeds:
- Thompson & Morgan: Pea 'Meteor' seeds
- Crocus: Pea 'Early Onward' seeds
- Sarah Raven: a wide variety of broad bean seeds
2. Onions and shallots
Planting onions and shallots in your vegetable garden this October is another great way to enjoy an early harvest next year.
'Buy them as sets (tiny young bulbs) and plant them any time from now until November,' says Morris, 'and remember to just cover the straw coloured tops so the birds don’t take them!'
If you do so, he adds, you will have a new crop of onions as early as June next year.
Where to buy onion seeds:
- Thompson & Morgan: A wide variety of onion seeds
- Crocus: A broad range of onion seeds
- Amazon: A selection of winter onion sets
3. Garlic
How often do you you use garlic when you're cooking? Exactly! Keep vampires at bay and plant garlic sets this autumn, then, as they're one of the best vegetables to sow in October.
They should be ready to harvest in early summer, although you can absolutely pick off a few of the green leaves to use as a garnish or in salads as they're growing.
Where to buy garlic seeds:
- Thompson & Morgan: Autumn garlic 'Eden Rose'
- Crocus: French garlic for autumn planting
4. Broccoli and spring cabbages
Can you sow broccoli and spring cabbages in October? Absolutely! Just be sure to keep them netted (it should keep hungry pigeons at bay), give them a good liquid feed after planting, and protect them from slugs at all costs.
You can expect your cabbages to be ready from (as the name suggests) early spring next year, while broccoli plugs will likely be primed for harvesting from May.
Where to buy broccoli and spring cabbage seeds:
- Thompson & Morgan: A wide variety of broccoli seeds and Cabbage 'Durham Early' (Spring) seeds
- Crocus: A wide variety of broccoli seeds and spring cabbage seeds
5. Cauliflower
One of the most fashionable vegetables around, the humble cauliflower has been rocketed to cult foodie status, so you'll be pleased to know that they are among the best vegetables to sow in October.
While they have a reputation for being tricky to grow, you should be onto a winner if you sow your cauliflowers indoors and then transplant them after about six weeks, once they have at least four true leaves.
'They should be ready to be transplanted outdoors as soon as their roots fill their module or pot,' adds SheGrowsVeg. 'Cauliflower Romanesco 'Jesi' is a wonderful variety with a unique spiky shape and a deliciously mild, sweet, nutty flavour.'
Where to buy broccoli and spring cabbage seeds:
- Thompson & Morgan: A wide variety of cauliflower seeds
- Crocus: More cauliflower seeds to choose from
FAQs
What vegetables grow in winter in the UK?
A surprising number of vegetables are available in winter hardy varieties which continue growing throughout the winter. Take kale, perpetual spinach and winter cabbages, for example. It's even said that the taste of some winter vegetables, like swede, is improved by frosts. Who said the winter weather can't work for a gardener?
What vegetables should I sow in October?
If you're looking for the best vegetables to sow in October, it's worth considering when you'd like to harvest them. If you want them this winter, stick to fast-growing veg like salad leaves, winter carrots, radishes, turnips, and spring onions.
If you're happy to overwinter your veg, try planting peas, broad beans, broccoli, spring cabbages, garlic sets, and onions ready for the new year ahead.
It is also a good idea to sow green manures, such as crimson clover, to cover bare areas, prevent weeds, and improve the quality of your soil.
So, there's our list of the best vegetables to sow in October. There's plenty to choose from, but which veg will you be growing this winter?
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