What to Plant in October in the UK

October is a quieter month in the UK vegetable garden. As temperatures fall and daylight shortens, most planting slows down. However, some hardy crops can still be planted for overwintering and early spring growth.

October is also an important time to prepare soil and tidy growing areas after the summer season.

Even small planting tasks now can help next year’s garden get off to a strong start.

Vegetables to plant in October

A few vegetables grow well when planted in autumn.

These include:

• garlic

• overwintering onions

• broad beans

These crops establish roots before winter and begin growing again in spring.

Garlic is one of the most popular vegetables to plant in October in the UK.

Container planting in October

Planting in containers becomes more limited as temperatures drop.

In mild areas, you may still grow:

• winter lettuce

• herbs

Containers should be placed in sheltered spots to protect plants from cold weather.

Preparing garden soil

October is a good time to improve soil for next season.

You can:

• add compost to beds

• remove weeds

• clear old plant material

• prepare raised beds

Improving soil now makes spring planting easier.

Protecting the garden

As colder weather approaches, it helps to:

• clear diseased plants

• tidy growing areas

• protect soil with compost or mulch

These steps help keep soil healthy over winter.

A slower gardening season

October marks the shift toward winter gardening in the UK.

Planting becomes less frequent, but preparing soil and planting hardy crops can still be very worthwhile.

Small efforts now help next year’s garden grow successfully.