Vegetable Garden in October - Hints and Tips
There are still things to do in the vegetable garden in October.
Harvesting of crops continues while in milder regions seeds can be sown.
Clear and clean plots ready for the winter and begin planning for next year.
Tomatoes
Sadly we are at the end of the growing season for outdoor tomatoes and it is time to dig up remaining plants. If you have a greenhouse, hang the plants upside down to enable the fruits to ripen. If you do not have a greenhouse you have the option of picking the fruit and putting them in a shoe box with a banana to speed ripening or use them green in chutneys. We tend to do the latter with the intention of using the chutney through the winter months. After the first tasting the good intention soon disappears!
Broad Beans
In milder regions sow broad beans in situ for over wintering by covering the trench with fleece or cloches to provide insulation.
Peas
In milder regions sow peas in cold frames. Remember mice will be foraging for extra food for the winter so take extra precautions to protect your crop.
Carrots
In milder areas sow carrots n cold frames. Alternatively if you have a deep box, which can be constructed easily from scrap timber, fill with compost, sow and move into the greenhouse before any real winter weather sets in.
Spring Cabbage
Plant out spring cabbages but do cover with netting or fleece to deter pigeons, they can devastate your crop in no time at all.
Celery
Just the top of trench celery should be showing so make sure that you earth up the plants or use cardboard to achieve the same result.
Self-blanching celery varieties are not as hardy and must be harvested before the first frosts.
Squashes and Pumpkins
Squashes and pumpkins should be harvested when ripe, let the skins harden by leaving them in the sun, greenhouse or garage and then store them in a cool, dry, dark place.
Asparagus
If not done last month, cut back asparagus foliage and mulch around the plant.
Prepare new asparagus beds by digging in organic matter and grit for added drainage. Plant up in the spring.
Store Root Vegetables
Remember to check crops carefully and only store healthy root crops, this includes carrots, beetroot and potatoes.
Leave parsnips in situ as frosting will improve the flavour.
Runner Beans
Probably the last picking in October as remaining beans will be tough and stringy.
Onions and Garlic
For an early crop next year plant autumn onion sets now.
Start garlic in containers or modules and plant out when more mature.
Sprouts
Remove yellowing leaves from Brussels sprouts to prevent grey mould problems.
Digging the Vegetable Garden
Not warm this month but not too cold either so it is a good time for digging over free areas of the vegetable plot.
Garden Hygiene
Whether it is your allotment or vegetable patch at home it is best to remove all plant debris to lessen the risk of spreading disease.
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