By Benedict Vanheems | 30 September 2023
October marks a period of transition as autumn blankets the garden with fallen leaves and cooler weather. With a mix of tidying, harvesting, and preparing for next season, there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. Let’s dive into 10 crucial tasks that will help your garden thrive.
1. Protect Winter Salads
As temperatures drop, winter salads and hardy Asian greens like tatsoi grow slower. You can extend their growing season by using cloches, garden fleece, or DIY polythene tunnels. To create a tunnel:
- Insert bamboo canes at each corner.
- Bend water pipes over the canes to form hoops.
- Secure a clear plastic sheet over the frame.
This setup shields crops from wet weather and maintains warmth. Remember to ventilate the tunnel on milder days to prevent mold and diseases.
2. Cure Winter Squash
When squash and pumpkin leaves start to wither, it’s harvest time. Cure your squash by leaving them in a warm, airy space (like a greenhouse bench) for 1–2 weeks. This toughens the skin and extends storage life. Properly cured squash can last 2–6 months.
3. Ripen Green Tomatoes
As ripening slows in cooler temperatures, pick green tomatoes before frost hits. Tomatoes don’t need light to ripen—place fruits showing a hint of color in a fruit bowl. For greener tomatoes, put them in a paper bag with a banana to speed ripening via ethylene gas. Still green? Try recipes like fried green tomatoes or chutney.
4. Harvest and Store Root Vegetables
If you experience harsh winters, dig up carrots, parsnips, and beets now. Cut off foliage and layer roots in boxes of damp sand or old potting mix, ensuring they don’t touch. Store in a cool, frost-free spot to keep them fresh.
5. Pick the Last Fruits
Late-season apples and pears are perfect for storage. Wrap blemish-free fruits in newspaper and store in breathable boxes in a cool, frost-free space. This method preserves their quality for weeks or months.
6. Clean Greenhouse Glass
Maximize light for autumn and winter crops by cleaning greenhouse glazing. Wash with soapy water or use a power washer for a sparkling finish. Clean cold frames too, ensuring optimal conditions for your winter plants.
7. Order Garlic for Planting
Garlic thrives in cool conditions, so order bulbs now for the best selection. Choose between:
- Hardneck garlic: Larger cloves, cold-hardy, and produces edible scapes.
- Softneck garlic: More cloves per bulb and better for long-term storage.
8. Rake Up Leaves
Leaves enrich soil, but remove them from paths and patios to prevent slipperiness. Gather leaves for compost or leaf mold, which takes 1–2 years to break down but significantly improves soil health. Pile leaves in wire mesh enclosures or perforated bags for easier decomposition.
9. Tidy Perennial Crops
Cut back Jerusalem artichokes, leaving a few inches of stalk as markers. Remove yellowed or frosted foliage from rhubarb and other perennials to keep your garden tidy and ready for spring growth.
10. Expand Your Composting Setup
Autumn produces an abundance of compostable material. Create additional compost bins using wooden pallets secured in a U-shape. Having multiple bins allows one to mature while the other is actively filled.
By tackling these tasks, you’ll prepare your garden for the challenges of winter while setting the stage for a successful next season. Happy gardening!
Let me know if you’d like further refinements or have additional requirements!