This guide is for vegetable gardeners who still want to sow in October. October offers unique opportunities for winter and spring crops. In October, choose cold-hardy crops and so-called cold germinators. These are plants whose seeds require a period of cold to germinate, such as lamb's lettuce, spinach, broad beans, and winter rye.

October is a real transitional month in the vegetable garden. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and you're harvesting the last of the summer vegetables. With a cold frame or greenhouse, you can extend the vegetable garden season and create additional opportunities for sowing in October. At the same time, you can prepare your beds for winter and sow a few tasty winter vegetables. Think spinach, lamb's lettuce , winter onions, and garlic . It's also a great month to feed the soil, mulch, and plan ahead for next year. October is also a great time to sow flowers and annuals, such as marigolds and cornflowers, for a colorful garden in the spring.

In this October vegetable garden calendar, you'll find what you can still sow in October , what you can harvest and store , what's left from your stock , and which perennials you can plant in the garden now. When preparing the beds, you can improve the soil structure by sowing green manures like winter rye, which prevent leaching and prepare the soil for the new season.

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• 🪟 Spinach *(winter cultivation under glass)* – see our growing guide and our spinach seeds . You can still sow winter spinach, such as 'Winterreuzen', in October. Sow preferably in a cold frame or greenhouse so the seeds can germinate well and are protected from the first frost. Be careful not to sow the seeds too close together; thin the seedlings to allow sufficient space and promote better growth.

• 🪟 Lamb's lettuce *(cold glass late)* – ideal as a fresh winter salad. Lamb's lettuce can be sown directly in the ground or in a cold frame. If you sow in early October, you can often harvest as early as December. See the growing guide for sowing lamb 's lettuce seeds . Ensure a good soil structure and sufficient nutrients so that the young plants will enter the winter strong.

• 🪟 Lettuce (widow cultivation) – you can still start a late crop under glass. Read thelettuce growing guide and choose your variety from our lettuce seed selection .

• 🪟 Cut lettuce – Cut lettuce is an excellent choice for sowing in October, as this lettuce variety tolerates cold well. Especially in a cold frame or greenhouse, cut lettuce stays healthy and can be harvested for a long time.

Tip: Don't sow too close together in October. The plants will grow more slowly, but you can harvest them smaller than tender leaves. Thin the seedlings to ensure sufficient space. Pay attention to soil preparation so the seeds can germinate well. Sometimes it's better to wait for the right time to sow, depending on the weather conditions. Good soil structure and sufficient nutrients are essential for healthy growth of your leafy vegetables.