Gardening expert shares six vegetables you can still plant in October for spring harvest

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

Alice Sjoberg Social News Reporter

09:00, 28 Oct 2025

It’s not too late to sow the last vegetables of the season in your garden (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)

Autumn has well and truly settled in, ushering in cooler weather and increased rainfall. Yet, despite whatever conditions nature decides to deliver, there remains an opportunity to tackle those final gardening tasks before the year comes to an end

Whilst the season may have passed for planting most fruits and flowers, gardeners can still sow several beloved vegetables in preparation for winter and early spring harvests. Gardening expert Jess Caleigh revealed that now represents the “perfect time” to plant six different vegetables that will be ready for harvesting during the winter months or come early spring, explaining that overwintering certain crops will result in a more robust yield next year.

“Wondering what vegetables you can plant in October?” she said at the beginning of her TikTok video. “Here’s what I’m sowing this month.”

The horticulturist proceeded to reveal the eight vegetables that gardeners can still plant during late autumn to ensure an early crop next year.

Pak Choi

Leading the list is the Chinese cabbage variety, Pak Choi. This vegetable proves excellent for late autumn cultivation, as it will provide fresh produce before year’s end.

“Great for a quick autumn harvest,” she told her viewers.

Gardeners can sow pak choi in the UK during October by starting seeds indoors or within a sheltered environment such as a greenhouse or polytunnel, which proves crucial for this late-season planting. Those residing in warmer regions might manage a final outdoor sowing with protection such as horticultural fleece or a cloche.

Winter lettuceContent cannot be displayed without consent

Winter lettuce varieties are frost-resistant types that can be planted from late summer through to late autumn, providing harvests throughout the colder months and into springtime.

These can be cultivated outdoors or within sheltered environments such as cold frames or glasshouses for optimal results, and container growing is equally viable.

Onions

Winter onions can be established by sowing robust varieties (either as seeds or sets) from October through to January, giving you an early advantage for the growing season ahead.

“Onion sets for overwintering, they’ll be ready next summer,” she explained.

As an alternative for more dependable results, start seeds indoors from mid-winter through early spring before transplanting outdoors once spring arrives, or direct sow outside in spring after soil temperatures have risen.

Garlic

“Garlic – one of the easiest crops to plant right now,” she told her viewers.

If you wish to ensure you never need to purchase garlic from the shops again, cultivating your own might be the perfect solution. Simply position individual cloves with the pointed end upwards and flat base downwards, approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) deep with 15 cm (6 inches) spacing between each one.

Plant during gentle winter conditions, and if your ground is dense and waterlogged, begin the cloves in modules using compost to avoid decay, then relocate them during spring. Adding mulch to protect the soil will also assist the cloves in developing strong root systems.

Broad beans

Broad beans can be planted during winter by sowing seeds in October or November for earlier cropping, or during late winter (February-March) for harvesting slightly later in the season. “Overwintering [broad beans] gives you a stronger winter crop,” she explained.

Select a robust variety for autumn planting, and make sure the ground drains well to avoid rotting. You can plant straight into the garden in a bright, protected area or in containers indoors for overwintering in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame.

Peas

For the last vegetable on her October planting recommendations, she disclosed: “And peas, perfect for an early harvest next year.”

You can plant peas during winter for an early crop of shoots or spring pods, typically between October and November, whilst steering clear of December and January.

Plant smooth-seeded, hardy cultivars such as ‘Meteor’ straight into the ground or in containers indoors for shelter from harsh weather and rodents.