October - this is what you can sow and cultivate

CALENDAR – OCTOBER

October often comes with large amounts of 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 many seeds that can overwinter in the soil and provide early crops next year. If you live in northern areas, winter may already have arrived, giving you the opportunity to winter sow. Also read Winter Sowing in Open Beds and Raised Beds.

So in the fall for early harvest in spring and summer

Maybe you have noticed that some vegetables and flowers appear in new places in the garden year after year. They sow themselves, simply. These plants are often perfect to sow now in the fall. Some seeds even require a cold period to germinate at all, they need so-called stratification. Sowing in the fall is easy, but the seeds must be planted in the ground at the right time. Some should be sown early in the fall, while others should be sown later.

Many biennial flowers, for example, can easily germinate early in the fall, in September-October, and form a rosette of leaves right away, while other seeds are meant to rest in the soil during the winter and germinate 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 for the fall sowing of later seeds until November-December, but in colder areas in the north, it may be fine to sow already now. If you're unsure about the timing, you can always experiment and sow some seeds at a time over a longer period.

Seeds that can be sown early in the fall

Please note that the sowing time may vary depending on the weather conditions and where in the country you live.

Wild garlic
Spring onions
Spinach
Asian leafy greens
Winter lettuce

Seeds that can be sown late in the fall

These should be sown late in the year, but before the frost comes.

Carrot
Parsnip
Radish
Salsify
Parsley
Dill
Chives
Onion (from seed)

Flower seeds that can be sown in the fall

Some biennial flowers can be sown in September-October. They will form a rosette of leaves and bloom the second year.

Bush carnation
Harebell
Forget-me-not
Bluebell
Daisy
Pansy

Later in the fall, in October-November, before the frost comes, you can also sow other flowers that won't appear until spring, for example:

Cornflower
Larkspur
Marigold
Various types of poppy
Atlas flower

Harvesting - How to do it

Ensure to remove all weeds from the soil. Water the soil before sowing, this will prevent the seeds from floating around right after you have sown them.

Write down what you have sown where, it is surprisingly easy to forget by the time spring comes - and suddenly you have planted double.
If there are plants that should sprout directly, for example biennial plants, make sure to keep the sprouts moist until the plants have grown properly.

Plant flower bulbs

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

Grow indoors

Leafy greens for cooking, even in winter?
Grow indoors all season. Pea shoots, leafy greens, garlic chives, cilantro, basil, and sprouts thrive incredibly well under a grow light. Even potted tomatoes and self-pollinating cucumbers can be harvested all winter if the plants receive sufficient soil, light, and water.

So vegetables and flowers for early harvest next year.
Divide, move and plant bushes, roses, perennials and trees.
Grow leafy vegetables, herbs, indoor cucumbers and potted tomatoes indoors.
Prepare beds, raised beds and soil for next year.
Clear 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.
Lift frost-sensitive tubers, like dahlias, from the soil and store them for winter.
Plant lovely autumn bulbs like tulips, daffodils and narcissus.
Water rhododendron, boxwood, thuja and yew in the fall to avoid drying out early in spring.