October in the vegetable garden

October is a turning point: the days grow shorter, the first frosts appear, but the soil is still active. In the vegetable garden, it’s time to harvest, plant, protect and prepare for winter. Here’s what to do to keep your garden healthy and get ready for the cold months.

🌱 Possible sowings and green manures

Even though sowing slows down a lot, October still offers some opportunities:

• Sow under cover or protection: lamb’s lettuce, winter spinach, rocket, winter lettuces.

• Green manures: sow mustard, rye, vetch, broad beans or “winter mix” blends on cleared plots. These covers will protect the soil from leaching, improve its structure and maintain microbial life.

These sowings and green manures are excellent allies to prepare for next year’s crops.

🥬 Planting and setting out

October is still a good time for some additions:

• Garlic, white onions, shallots: plant them if the soil isn’t waterlogged, preferably on well-drained beds or ridges to avoid stagnant moisture.

• Spring cabbages, hardy lettuces: in greenhouse or cold frame, depending on local climate.

• Spring bulbs: crocuses, tulips, daffodils… if your climate allows.

Avoid planting in waterlogged soil. Choose well-aerated and slightly raised beds to limit the risk of rot.

🥒 Harvesting and managing remaining crops

October is an active harvest month:

• Root vegetables: carrots, beets, turnips.

• Cabbages (white cabbage, kale) and hardy lettuces.

• Squashes and pumpkins: harvest before the first frosts. Place them on boards or raise them to avoid direct contact with damp soil.

• Fruits: apples, pears, quinces should be harvested to prevent rot.

As soon as plants are exhausted (last tomatoes, diseased crops), pull them up, remove debris, compost the healthy parts or discard them if diseased.

🍂 Maintenance, protection and soil preparation

To protect and prepare your garden:

• Mulching: use dead leaves or straw on beds still in use to limit weeds and protect the soil.

• Weeding & cleaning: clear paths, remove weeds, refresh or replace mulch.

• Compost & amendments: apply mature compost or organic matter to cleared plots.

• Soil preparation: if the soil is dry enough, aerate it (without digging too deep), otherwise keep it covered with green manures.

• Frost protection: cover sensitive crops as soon as nights get colder — fleece, tunnels, cloches.

✅ In summary

In October, the vegetable garden is still alive:

• Last sowings under cover or green manures.

• Planting garlic, onions and bulbs depending on climate.

• Harvesting root vegetables, cabbages, squashes and fruits.

• Protecting, cleaning, mulching and enriching the soil.

The goal is to end the season beautifully while laying the foundation for a promising spring.