🗓️ Sowing in October: what can still be grown in the vegetable garden?

This guide is for gardeners who still want to sow in October. October offers unique opportunities for winter and spring crops. In October, focus primarily on cold-resistant crops suitable for autumn or winter cultivation. Think of spinach, lamb's lettuce, hardy lettuce, and broad beans. Under glass, you can extend the sowing season a bit further.

October is the true transition month in the vegetable garden. Days are getting shorter, nights are crispier, and you are harvesting the last of the summer vegetables. With a cold frame or greenhouse, you can extend the garden season and create extra opportunities for sowing in October. At the same time, you prepare your beds for winter and sow a few delicious winter vegetables. Think of spinach, lamb's lettuce, planting winter onions, and planting garlic. It is also a top month to feed the soil, mulch, and start thinking ahead to next year. Autumn sowing is also possible for some annual flowers. For this, choose species and varieties specifically suited for autumn sowing and always check the sowing instructions on the packaging for a colorful garden in the spring.

In this vegetable garden calendar for October, you will find what you can still sow in October, what you can harvest and store, what is coming out of your stock, and which perennials you can now plant in the vegetable garden. When preparing the beds, you can improve the soil structure by sowing green manures like winter rye, which prevent nutrient leaching and get the soil ready for the new season.

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🏠 Indoors · 🪟 Greenhouse/cold frame · 🪏 Outdoors

• 🪟 Spinach *(winter cultivation under glass)* – Read our growing guide on growing spinach and discover our spinach seeds. In October, you can still sow winter spinach, such as 'Winterreuzen'. Preferably sow in a cold frame or greenhouse so the seeds can germinate well and are protected from the first frost. Take care not to sow the seeds too densely; thin out the seedlings for enough space and better growth.

• 🪟 Lamb's lettuce *(cold glass late)* – ideal as a fresh winter salad. Lamb's lettuce can be sown outdoors or in a cold frame. If you sow at the beginning of October, you can often harvest as early as December. See the growing guide on sowing lamb's lettuce and our lamb's lettuce seeds. Ensure good soil structure and sufficient nutrients so the young plants go into winter strong.

• 🪟 Lettuce (winter crop) – under glass, you can still start a late crop. Also read our guide on sowing and growing lettuce and discover our lettuce seeds for winter cropping.

• 🪟 Leaf lettuce – Leaf lettuce is an excellent choice to sow in October because this type of lettuce can handle the cold well. Especially in a cold frame or greenhouse, leaf lettuce remains healthy and you can continue to harvest for a long time. Discover our leaf lettuce seeds and sow them in October under glass.

Tip: Do not sow too densely in October. The plants grow slower, but you can harvest them smaller as tender leaves. Thin out the seedlings for enough space. Pay attention to soil preparation so the seeds can germinate well. Sometimes it is better to wait for the right moment to sow, depending on weather conditions. Good soil structure and sufficient nutrients are essential for the healthy growth of your leafy greens.

• 🏠 Garden cress (sprouts) – super fast, ideal on the windowsill. Check out our growing guide growing sprouts and our sprouting seeds.

• 🪏 Onion sets *(winter crop)* – plant winter onions in open ground, in airy, not too wet soil. Use a broadfork to loosen the soil and a rake to make the surface fine. This improves soil structure and ensures good nutrient absorption. You can also start young onions in small pots and transplant them into the garden later. This way, you'll have an early harvest in the spring.

• 🪏 Spring onion *(winter crop)* – suitable for late planting/sowing in light soil; produces fine stalks early in the year. Here too, you can use pots to start young plants or sow directly in open ground.

• 🪏 Garlic *(autumn planting)* – October is a great month to plant garlic. Choose firm cloves and plant them with the point facing upwards about 5 to 7 cm deep, in open ground. Planting garlic in October ensures a better yield in the spring. For an extra early harvest in the spring, you can also plant garlic in a cold frame. Use a container or cold frame if necessary to protect young plants from frost. You can also start garlic in small pots before transplanting them into the garden.

• 🪟 Carrot *(super early under glass)* – sow a row in the greenhouse or cold frame for the very first spring carrots. Use a spade and rake to prepare the soil well, so the soil structure is optimal and the carrots receive sufficient nutrients. Our growing guide sowing carrots and our carrot seeds will help you get started.

Note: do not sow or plant root vegetables in wet, heavy clay. Better to wait until the soil just dries out to prevent suffocation and rot. Good preparation of the garden in autumn ensures a richer harvest of vegetables in the new season.

October is one of the best months to plant fruit shrubs and fruit trees. The soil is still warm, there is sufficient rainfall, and the plants can establish their roots comfortably before winter sets in. It is therefore the ideal time to expand your garden or vegetable patch with edible small fruits and trees. Proper preparation of the garden, with attention to soil structure and the addition of nutrients, increases the chances of a bountiful harvest in the future.

🍇 Small fruits

Preferably plant deciduous small fruits now. Choose a sunny spot and ensure there is enough organic matter in the soil. Improved soil structure helps the plants root better and ensures that nutrients are retained well.

• Blueberry

• Blackberry

• Raspberry

• Currant / redcurrant

• Gooseberry

• Rhubarb

• Jostaberry, tayberry, Japanese wineberry (for those who like to try something special)

🍎 Fruit and nut trees

October is also an ideal planting time for fruit trees, especially for bare-root specimens. The trees are already in place before winter and will sprout easily in the spring. Pay extra attention to the soil structure and add sufficient nutrients for successful planting.

• Apple tree and pear tree

• Cherry tree and plum tree

• Fig

• Walnut and hazelnut

Work a generous portion of compost into the planting hole, provide support with tree stakes, and lay a layer of mulch around the trunk. This prevents the soil from drying out too quickly and gives weeds less of a chance.

In October, you pick the last summer harvests in the garden and slowly transition to typical autumn and winter vegetables. With a little luck, you can still enjoy a beautiful harvest at the end of the season, especially if you use a small greenhouse or cold frame to extend the harvest. Many crops can remain in the open ground for a while, but sometimes you have to wait for the right moment to harvest, depending on the weather. Especially with some protection from fleece or a tunnel, you can stretch the harvest period in the garden even further.

• 🪏 Endive (autumn/winter)
• 🪏 Leek (summer / early autumn)
• 🪏 Arugula (normal cultivation)
• 🪏 Celery (summer)
• 🪏 Lettuce (autumn cultivation)
• 🪏 Spinach (autumn)
• 🪏 Corn salad (open ground)
• 🪏 Chard

Note: Preferably sow leafy greens such as leaf lettuce, corn salad, and spinach in open ground, but use a cold frame or greenhouse in cold weather to protect them and extend the growing season. Ensure the seedlings are not planted too close together for a better harvest. Sometimes it is better to wait with harvesting until the right moment for the best taste and yield.

• 🪏 Garlic (last bulbs from stock)
  You can harvest garlic from open ground once the foliage starts to die back. Use a digging fork to carefully loosen the bulbs and a rake to loosen the soil around the plants. Let the bulbs dry well before storing them in a crate or cold frame. For small quantities, you can use pots or containers to store the bulbs in a dry and dark place. A good soil structure and sufficient nutrients in the garden ensure the garlic keeps well. Sometimes it is necessary to wait until the foliage has completely yellowed for the best harvest.

• 🪏 Celeriac (summer)
  Celeriac is harvested in the garden when the tubers are large enough. Preferably harvest from open ground with a digging fork to prevent damage. You can store celeriac in a crate or cold frame, where temperature and humidity remain stable. Small tubers can be stored in pots or containers. Pay attention to good soil structure and sufficient nutrients for longer shelf life.

• 🪏 Fennel (late autumn)
  Harvest fennel from open ground when the bulbs feel firm. Use a digging fork to loosen the bulbs and a rake to level the soil. You can store fennel in a crate or cold frame. For small bulbs, pots or containers are handy. Wait to harvest until the bulbs are well developed. A healthy soil structure and sufficient nutrients in the garden are important for storage.

• 🪏 Parsnip (normal)
  Parsnip often remains in open ground until after the first frost, as the flavor improves then. Use a digging fork when harvesting so as not to damage the roots. You can store parsnips in a crate or cold frame, or in pots for smaller roots. Sometimes you have to wait until the soil is a bit softer after rain for the easiest harvesting. Good soil structure and nutrients contribute to a longer shelf life.

• 🪏 Beetroot (summer/autumn)
  Harvest beetroot from open ground with a digging fork. Store the beets in a crate or cold frame, or use pots or containers for small beets. Ensure good soil structure and sufficient nutrients in the garden for optimal storage. Wait to harvest until the beets have reached the desired size.

• 🪏 Spring onion (summer and autumn cultivation)
  You can harvest spring onion from open ground with a digging fork. You can store small stems in pots or containers. A crate or cold frame is suitable for larger quantities. Pay attention to good soil structure and nutrients in the garden for a longer shelf life. Sometimes it is better to wait until the stems are thick enough.

• 🪏 Carrot (summer/late)
  Harvest carrots from open ground with a digging fork to prevent breakage. Store carrots in a crate or cold frame, or use pots for small carrots. A good soil structure and sufficient nutrients in the garden are essential for good storage. Wait to harvest until the carrots are fully developed for the best taste and shelf life.

• 🪏 Cauliflower (autumn cultivation, protection in a greenhouse or cold frame possible to extend the season in the garden)

• (autumn, sometimes wait for the right moment to harvest for the best result)

• 🪏 Kohlrabi (autumn / autumn under glass, greenhouse or cold frame protects young plants against cold in the garden)

• 🪏 Radish (summer/autumn, in a cold frame or greenhouse you can continue sowing in the garden longer)

• 🪏 Red cabbage (autumn, luck can play a role in a good harvest in your garden, especially in favorable weather conditions)

• 🪏 Savoy cabbage (autumn, protection in a greenhouse or cold frame possible)

• 🪏 Brussels sprouts (summer/mid-early, sometimes it is necessary to wait until the sprouts are firm enough to harvest)

• 🪏 White cabbage (autumn/storage, harvest in the garden when the heads are mature, sometimes with a bit of luck an extra-large harvest)

• 🪏 Potatoes (late varieties, last harvest from the garden, wait until the foliage has died back)

• Basil (often last harvest, frost-sensitive; can grow longer in a greenhouse)

• Chives (harvest from the garden, optionally protect with a greenhouse)

• Dill

• Tarragon

• Chervil

• Coriander

• Mint

• Parsley

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Thyme

In October, with a little luck, you can still enjoy a rich herb harvest from your garden. By using a small greenhouse, you protect the herbs from the first cold and extend the season.

In October, there is usually still enough fresh greenery in a greenhouse or conservatory. Use a small greenhouse or cold frame to protect leafy greens and brassicas from the cold and extend the growing season. Ensure that you do not plant the seedlings too close together, so they have enough room to grow and you get a better harvest. What you no longer harvest fresh, you take from the freezer or storage crate. Sometimes it is wise to wait with harvesting until the right moment for the best taste and quality.

• Leafy greens – abundantly present in cold greenhouse or conservatory (lamb's lettuce, spinach, arugula, Swiss chard...)
• Brassicas – most are still outside; optionally a portion finely chopped in the freezer (kale, broccoli).

• Garden peas – freezer
• Snow peas – freezer
• (Possibly) beans – preserved or frozen

• Potatoes – store in a cool, dark, and dry place
• Onion, shallot, and garlic – as storage onions in a crate or braided strand
• Carrots – in storage sand, crate, or frozen/sterilized

• Gherkins – preserved
• Zucchini – preserved or frozen
• Cucumber – preserved
• Corn – in the freezer
• Tomato – dried, in oil, or sterilized
• Pumpkin – stored in a cool and dry place or in cubes in the freezer
• Herbs – in most cases dried (thyme, mint, tarragon, chives, dill, coriander, parsley, basil, rosemary, sage...)

Remove diseased plants and clearly exhausted crops, but leave some healthy plant material, flower stalks, flowers, and annual flowers for beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies. This way, you support biodiversity in your garden and give beneficial insects the chance to overwinter. The joy of a garden full of flowers and insects also ensures a lively and colorful whole in the next season. This is how you combine neatness with biodiversity.

Cover empty beds in the open ground with a layer of straw, leaves, grass clippings, or compost. Mulch protects the soil against heavy rain and leaching, improves soil structure, and helps retain nutrients in your garden. For mulching, you can first loosen the soil with a spade and then level it with a rake, so that the mulch material is well distributed and the soil life benefits optimally. This way, you ensure that you can sow in a beautiful crumbly structure in the spring.

October is perfect for garlic and winter onions. Plant the cloves or bulbs with the tip facing up, just below the soil surface. Garlic can be planted in October for a better yield in the spring. A cold period in the winter makes for nice, large bulbs later on. Tip: plant garlic in a cold frame for an early harvest in the spring.

Use fleece fabric, a small greenhouse, or a cold frame to protect lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and young plants in your garden against the first night frosts and severe frost. A cold frame not only protects your plants against cold and rain, but also provides extra light and heat. This way you can extend the vegetable garden season and sow even more in October. With a bit of luck, thanks to this protection, you will enjoy a successful harvest, even if the weather does not cooperate.

Do not let pumpkins lie wet on the ground in the garden for too long. Harvest them with a piece of stem, let them dry for a week in a warm, airy place, and then store them in a cool, dry place. Sometimes you have to wait for the right moment to harvest so that you get the best quality. With a bit of luck, you will enjoy a good harvest of pumpkins and zucchini from your garden. This prevents rot and extends the storage time.

If the soil in your garden is not too cold and wet yet, you can sow a quick green manure on empty beds in the open ground, such as winter rye. Winter rye is ideal to sow in October because it improves soil structure and helps retain nutrients throughout the winter. Use a spade to loosen the soil before you sow, and work the seeds into the soil lightly with a rake after sowing. This way you protect the soil of your garden, suppress weeds, and provide organic matter when you dig in or mow the green manure in the spring.

Remove old crops, weeds, and plant debris from the greenhouse or cold frame. Wash windows and frames so that maximum light enters during the dark months. This is important for your winter crops and ensures that your garden as a whole remains healthy. With a well-prepared greenhouse or frame, you increase the chance of success with a winter crop, especially if the weather cooperates.

Mix cabbage residues, leaves, and other garden material well and ensure a balance between "brown" (dry) and "green" (fresh) material. By adding enough nutrients to the compost heap, you improve the quality of the compost and thus the fertility of your entire garden. You can optionally add a layer of old compost or soil as a starter for the microorganisms. With rich compost, you sometimes have the luck of a particularly fertile garden, which leads to a better harvest in the next season.

Note where your cabbages, root vegetables, fruit vegetables, and legumes were located in the garden this year. This makes it easy to create a crop rotation schedule in the winter that helps prevent diseases and pests and allows you to make optimal use of the open ground. With good planning, you increase the chance of success for a bountiful harvest in the next season.

Let a few specimens of strong plants, flowers, and annuals go to seed and ripen. Harvest the seeds on a dry day in the garden, let them dry further indoors, and store them in paper bags or jars. Many gardeners enjoy collecting seeds, and harvesting seeds from flowers and annuals is extra satisfying. This is how you build your own seed library step by step, and with a bit of luck, you'll have a garden full of home-harvested seeds.

October is the month for finishing up and looking ahead. With a little planning and protection, you won't just be harvesting plenty now, but you’ll also be laying the foundation for a flying start in the new gardening season.

More than you think! In October, you can primarily start winter and early spring crops:

• 🪟 Spinach, lamb's lettuce, loose-leaf lettuce, and overwintering lettuce in a greenhouse, cloche, cold frame, or cold box.

• 🏠 Garden cress as a sprout on the windowsill.

• 🪏 Garlic, winter onions, spring onions, and broad beans as autumn or winter plants.

• 🪟 Early carrots under glass for a super early harvest.

• 🌸 Flowers and annuals such as marigolds, cornflowers, and poppies can be sown in October. You can sow poppies now for summer blooms. Cornflowers do well in nutrient-poor, dry spots.

Use a cold frame, container, or greenhouse to extend the season and protect young plants from the cold. Sometimes it is better to wait for the right moment to sow so that your plants can grow and overwinter well.

Preferably choose varieties that are explicitly suitable for autumn or winter cultivation.

For summer crops, yes, but for winter and early spring crops, certainly not. In autumn, there are still plenty of possibilities for sowing in the garden, especially crops that grow slowly and can handle the cold well, such as spinach, lamb's lettuce, and garlic. Sometimes it is important to wait for the right moment to sow so that the plants can overwinter successfully. Use a small greenhouse, cold frame, or container to provide extra protection for young plants against the cold and to extend the growing season. Under glass, you can still do a surprising amount, especially if you protect the plants from night frost. With a little luck, you can enjoy a successful autumn harvest and an early harvest in the spring.

For winter garlic, the period from October to early November is ideal. The cloves will root before winter, receive a cold stimulus, and form beautiful bulbs in the spring. Always plant garlic and winter onions with the tip facing up, just below the soil surface. Garlic can be planted in October for a better yield in the spring. For an extra early harvest in the spring, you can also plant garlic in a cold frame, so the seeds are protected from the cold and the growing season is extended. Plant in a sunny spot in airy soil, with the tip pointing up and about 5–7 cm deep.

No, many crops can handle a bit of frost just fine: kale, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, leeks, and lamb's lettuce from open ground often even taste better for it. In the garden, you can use a small greenhouse, cold frame, or container to provide extra protection against frost, allowing you to extend the season and sometimes harvest earlier. Frost-sensitive crops such as zucchini, pumpkin, tomato, bell pepper, and chili pepper should be harvested before the first serious night frost. Sometimes you have to wait for the right moment to harvest, but with a bit of luck, you'll have a wonderful harvest from your garden.

It is better not to plant or sow in soaking wet soil. You risk root suffocation and soil structural damage. Good soil structure is important for retaining nutrients and preventing leaching, which is essential for the health of your garden. Wait until the top layer is walkable again without your shoes sinking in. Use a fork to loosen the soil and a rake to work it well after sowing to stimulate the germination process. Work in some compost if necessary to improve the structure. Plant vegetables and flowers preferably directly in the open ground when conditions are suitable.