Keen gardener Jess Caleigh claims planting one particular vegetable in the coming weeks will ensure you get a ‘head start’ in your homegrown crops come the spring
Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
14:05, 21 Oct 2025
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A gardening expert has identified a crop to sow in October (stock)(Image: Zbynek Pospisil via Getty Images)
A gardening expert has pinpointed one particular crop that should be planted this October to secure a “head start” on home-grown vegetables for 2026. Jess Caleigh revealed that now represents the “perfect time” to sow robust peas if gardeners desire an earlier harvest come springtime.
“If you want a strong head start, the trick is to find a hardy variety like Meteor or Felton First,” the 30-year old shared in a TikTok video. These varieties can withstand the harsh winter conditions far better than other alternatives. “I usually sow mine in cell trays or deep pots so their roots have plenty of space,” Jess disclosed.
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She further recommended that for optimal results, gardeners should position them somewhere protected in locations such as a cold frame, glasshouse or even upon a sunny windowsill.
“Come spring, they are ready to plant out,” Jess noted. “And you’ll have fresh peas before you know it.”
Supporting Jess’ guidance, the Royal Horticultural Society states: “You can sow peas in October if you use a hardy bean variety such as ‘Oregon Sugar Pod’. You can protect the seedlings from frost using a cloche.
“If you have a sheltered garden with well-drained soil, sowing in autumn means an earlier summer harvest of pea shoots and peas in May and June.”
The RHS additionally suggests sowing the peas in separate pots and once they achieve 15cm in height, they can be transplanted outdoors with adequate support. “Plant them about 15cm apart,” they added.
“Carefully train the tendrils around the support so that they are encouraged to use it. You can also direct sow peas outdoors, but they are often eaten by slugs before they get started on growing.”
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Jess also recommended that October presents an ideal opportunity to sow a completely different variety of pea – the sweet pea, which naturally is a flowering specimen rather than a crop. “If you’ve never tried sowing sweet peas in autumn, now’s the time to give it a go,” she enthused.
Jess explained further: “They love a bit of cool weather to get started and by spring, they’ll be strong and ready to climb! I’ve sown mine in root trainers with good compost and tucked them somewhere cool and bright for winter.”
Taking this approach now will guarantee the sweet peas will “burst into life” when spring returns. Jess concluded by sharing that she prefers to start the sowing process in deep containers or even old toilet rolls.
“Just pop in one or two seeds per cell, water them gently and keep them somewhere cool and bright,” she added.
After they have sprouted, Jess suggests nipping out the growing tips once they reach 10cm, which she claims encourages them to develop “bushier” growth and will result in more blooms come springtime.
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