Autumn has firmly arrived, bringing with it chillier temperatures and more rain. However, regardless of what conditions Mother Nature throws at us, there is still time to get your last gardening jobs of the year out of the way.
While it might be too late in the season to plant most fruits and flowers, there is still time to sow some of your favourite vegetables to plan ahead for a winter and early spring harvest.
Jess Caleigh said now is the “perfect time” to sow six different vegetables that will be ready to harvest later this winter, or in early spring, as overwintering some plants will make for a stronger harvest next year.
“Wondering what vegetables you can plant in October?” she asked at the start of her video. “Here’s what I’m sowing this month.”
The gardener went on to share the eight vegetables that you can still sow now in late autumn in order to guarantee an early harvest next year.
Pak Choi
First up, is the Chinese cabbage, Pak Choi. This is a great vegetable to grow in late autumn, as it will give you produce before the end of the year.
“Great for a quick autumn harvest,” she told her viewers.
You can grow pak choi in the UK in October by sowing seeds indoors or in a protected environment like a greenhouse or polytunnel, which is essential for this late-season sowing. If you live in a milder area, a final outdoor sowing might be possible with protection like fleece or a cloche.
Winter lettuce
Winter lettuce are cold-hardy varieties that can be sown in late summer to late autumn for a harvest through the winter and into spring.
You can grow them outdoors or in protected spaces like cold frames or greenhouses for the best results, and they can be grown in pots as well.
Onions
You can sow winter onions by planting hardier varieties (as seeds or sets) between October and January to get a head start on the growing season.
“Onion sets for overwintering, they’ll be ready next summer,” she explained.
Alternatively, for a more reliable start, sow seeds indoors from mid-winter to early spring and transplant them outdoors in spring, or sow directly outdoors in spring once the soil has warmed up.
Garlic
“Garlic – one of the easiest crops to plant right now,” she told her viewers.
If you want to guarnatee not having to buy yourself any garlic from the supermarket, growing them youself might be the thing for you.
To do this, simply plant individual cloves pointy-end up and flat-end down, about 2.5 cm (1 inch) deep and 15 cm (6 inches) apart. Plant during mild winter weather, and if your soil is heavy and wet, start the cloves in modules with compost to prevent rotting, then transfer them in the spring. Protecting the soil with mulch will also help the cloves establish roots.
Broad beans
You can sow broad beans in winter by sowing seeds in October or November for an earlier crop, or in late winter (February-March) for a slightly later one.
“Overwintering [broad beans] gives you a stronger winter crop,” she explained.
Pick a hardy variety for autumn sowing, and ensure the soil is well-draining to prevent rot. You can sow directly outdoors in a sunny, sheltered spot or indoors in pots for overwintering in a cold greenhouse or frame.
Peas
For the final vegetable on her list of October sowing, she revealed: “And peas, perfect for an early harvest next year.”
You can sow peas in winter for an early harvest of shoots or spring pods, ideally from October to November, but avoiding December and January.
Sow smooth-seeded, hardy varieties like ‘Meteor’ directly outdoors or indoors in pots for protection from the elements and mice.
Comments are closed.