October - this is what you can sow and cultivate

October often brings with it heavy rain. Thanks to the increased moisture in the soil, it is a good time to divide, move and plant new perennials, shrubs, roses and trees. It is easier to dig when the soil is moist and we get help with watering, so take the opportunity to renew and prepare for next year. You can also sow as many seeds as possible that can overwinter in the soil and provide an early harvest next year. If you live in northern areas, winter may have already arrived, giving you the opportunity to winter sow.

You may have noticed that some vegetables and flowers appear in new places in the garden year after year. They simply sow themselves. These plants are often perfect to sow now in the fall. Some seeds even require a period of cold to germinate at all, they need so-called stratification.

Sowing in the fall is easy, but the seeds must be in the soil at the right time. Some should be sown early in the fall, while others should be sown later. For example, many biennial flowers can easily germinate in early fall, in September–October, and form a rosette of leaves right away, while other seeds are meant to rest in the soil over the winter and germinate only in the spring. The latter should be sown when the cold has set in. Always sow the seeds according to the recommendations.

If you live in warmer parts of the country, you may be able to wait with the autumn sowing of later seeds until November–December, but in colder areas in the north, it may be fine to sow now. If you are unsure about the timing, you can always experiment and sow a few seeds at a time over a longer period of time.

1. Make sure to remove all weeds from the soil.
2. Water the soil before sowing, this will prevent the seeds from floating around immediately after you have sown them.
3. Write down what you have sown where, it is surprisingly easy to forget by the time spring comes – and suddenly you have planted twice.
4. If there are plants that will germinate directly, for example biennial plants, you must make sure to keep the seedlings moist until the plants have grown up properly.

Many beautiful flower bulbs can also be planted now in October, such as tulips, daffodils and various types of narcissus. They will bloom in spring, when after a long winter we really long for color in the garden. If you live in an apartment with a balcony or just want to decorate the entrance with a beautiful flower pot, planting flower bulbs in a pot can also be beautiful. In a so-called onion lasagna, the bulbs bloom in intervals and provide flowers over a long period.

Read also:

• Spring bulbs and autumn bulbs - what is the difference

Leafy greens for cooking, even in winter? Grow indoors all season long. Pea shoots, leafy greens, garlic leaves, coriander, basil and sprouts thrive wonderfully under a grow light. Even potted tomatoes and self-fertilizing cucumbers can be harvested all winter long if the plants are given sufficient soil, light and water.

Read also:

• Plant lighting - facts and tips about growth lights and plant lights

• Sow vegetables and flowers for an early harvest next year.
• Divide, move and plant shrubs, roses, perennials and trees.
• Grow leafy greens, herbs, indoor cucumbers and potted tomatoes inside.
• Prepare beds, raised beds and soil for next year.
• Clean out the greenhouse.
• Mow the lawn one last time and use the clippings as fertilizer in the beds.
• Harvest what you have grown throughout the season.
• Dig up frost-sensitive tubers, such as dahlias, from the ground and store them for the winter.
• Plant lovely autumn bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and narcissus.
• Water rhododendrons, boxwood, thuja and yews in autumn to prevent drying out in early spring.

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