The allotment in October

Temperatures can fall quite noticeably this month and we may experience the first frosts of the winter but there are still plenty of things to do on the allotment in October. The clocks go back at the end of the month so make the best of the lighter evenings until then if you can.

Before conditions get too cold or wet dig over your beds. Well-rotted manure or your homemade compost can be incorporated in any beds except where you intend to grow carrots and parsnips where it will cause the roots to fork, often amusing but not very practical for the cook!

For no-diggers now is a good time to mulch. An inch or two of well-rotted manure or your own compost is all you need.

There will be plenty to add to your compost bins or heaps as you begin to clear your vegetable beds. Use any compost that’s ready for your mulching and soil improvement and turn the remainder before adding the new material.

Stay tidy to reduce disease and pests. Clear up fallen foliage and remove dying leaves from your crops, particularly brassicas. Stake Brussels sprouts if you’re in a windy spot.

The cooler temperatures may mean there are no butterflies but you may still need to protect brassicas from pigeons, they can decimate your crop surprisingly quickly.

Continue to check any stored produce such as potatoes, onions, garlic and shallots for decay.

Seeds to sow in October

Hardy broad beans like Aquadulce Claudia can be sown in the allotment in October. They are frost hardy but do not like to be too wet. On heavy clay soils consider starting them in small pots for planting out in early spring.

Overwintering onion sets, often called Japanese onions can be planted now. These can also be started in pots or modules. Once rooted they are less likely to rot in cold, wet soil and they are more difficult for birds to pull out. Netting will help too.

Early varieties of cauliflower can be sown in the greenhouse or on a widow sill.

Plant out in the allotment in October

Spring cabbage sown in July or August can be planted out in the allotment in October. Don’t forget to protect them from pigeons.

Harvest from the allotment in October

There are still lots of vegetables to harvest from the allotment in October.

If you haven’t lifted maincrop potatoes you should do so as soon as possible. Choose a nice day and leave the tubers on the surface to dry. Remove excess soil before storing in a cool, dry place in paper or sack sacks.

In the root crop bed carrots, celeriac, turnips and swede will be available from the allotment in October. Early varieties of leek will be ready too.

Cauliflower and various cabbage varieties will be ready to harvest, as will chard and spinach.

The last runner beans and peas of the season can be picked. They keep well in the freezer so save any you can’t eat.

Lettuce and Florence fennel can also be harvested this month.

It’s the last month for courgettes but winter squash will be coming into their own and should be harvested before the first frost.

The greenhouse in October

Harvest the last of your tomatoes this month. Any that are still green can be kept it a paper bag with a ripe banana to ripen. There’s always the option of making green tomato chutney too!

Continue to ventilate the greenhouse whether you still have crops or not, this will discourage pests and disease.

Clean the glass to allow maximum light, particularly if you are still growing crops or starting seeds for next season.