October

What to do this Month – October

In mild areas you can sow overwintering broad beans in situ. Cover broad beans with cloches or re-used old or biodegradable fleece to provide insulation in colder areas, as well as protection from pigeons.
Plant out spring cabbages. Remember to net them for protection from pigeons.
Cut back asparagus foliage. Take care of the spines, and mulch plants afterwards with homemade compost.
Dig up outdoor tomato plants and hang them upside-down in the greenhouse to allow the fruits to ripen. Any that don’t ripen can be used green in chutneys.

Now is a good time to plant any pot-grown fruit and place orders for bare-root stock to plant in the winter.
Take cuttings of currants and gooseberries and dig up rooted layers of blackberries and hybrid berries such as tayberries.
Check stored apples regularly and remove rotting fruit.
Autumn is also a good time to mulch under fruit trees and bushes with homemade garden compost or leaf mould.