What To Plant In October UK
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October is a garlic, bare-root and spring-bulb month before it is a vegetable-sowing one — with broad beans, overwintering peas and onion sets still going in where the weather is mild, and winter salads moving under cover.
Updated 29 September 2026 for October.
Plan every month with the UK vegetable planting calendar.
Sowing dates and growing advice verified against RHS guidance by the SoilCommander Growing Team.
The autumn planting trio: garlic, bare-root fruit and spring bulbs
Most of what UK gardeners plant in autumn falls into three groups. Only the first is a vegetable, so here is the short version of each.
1. Garlic
Garlic is usually planted from mid-autumn to early winter, and the cloves need that cold spell to form a bulb (RHS). Set cloves 15cm apart with the tip 2.5cm below the surface (RHS). A missed autumn window is not fatal: some varieties suit late winter or early spring planting. Full garlic growing guide.
2. Bare-root fruit trees and bushes
Bare-root plants are lifted while dormant with little soil on the roots, so they are only sold in winter and early spring and should be planted promptly (RHS); they are also generally cheaper than container-grown plants (RHS). That short buying window is why October is the month to decide what you want. Raspberry canes, for example, can go in any time while dormant, November to March (RHS). Deciduous hedging such as beech, hawthorn and hornbeam is planted from leaf fall, typically mid-autumn to late winter (RHS). Crop guides: raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, apples and pears.
3. Spring-flowering bulbs
Spring bulbs are sold as dry bulbs in autumn and are planted while dormant (RHS); the RHS plants alliums in borders in early autumn (RHS). Bulbs sit outside this site's vegetable focus, so follow the RHS guides linked below for depths and dates.
What to Sow and Plant Outdoors in October
- Garlic — plant cloves now (see above); October is the prime month for most gardens
- Broad beans — the RHS names 'Aquadulce Claudia' as its autumn-sowing variety; sow in mild areas or very sheltered sites, under cloches or fleece (RHS, RHS)
- Overwintering peas — mild areas only; the RHS names 'Douce Provence' and 'Meteor' (RHS)
- Overwintering onion sets and shallots — October is the time to finish planting overwintering sets for an early- to mid-summer crop; on heavy, waterlogged soil start them in modules indoors instead (RHS, RHS)
- Spring cabbage — plant out now and net against pigeons (RHS); see the cabbage guide
- Green manures — sow winter field beans or grazing rye on cleared beds (RHS)
Broad beans and peas are for mild areas and sheltered sites only. Colder gardens should wait for spring or sow in pots in an unheated greenhouse.
What to Sow Under Cover in October
- Winter salads — corn salad (lamb's lettuce), land cress and oriental leaves for cropping under a cloche, in a cold frame or under fleece (RHS); see corn salad
- Spinach — cover with cloches or fleece from October, or move plants into a greenhouse or cold frame before the cold arrives (RHS)
- Microgreens — quick-growing for indoor harvest through autumn and winter
What to Harvest in October
- Pumpkins and squash — lift before hard frosts; cure in a warm, dry place for 10 days
- Beetroot — lift and store in boxes of slightly damp sand
- Leeks — harvest as needed; leave maincrop varieties in the ground
- Parsnips and swede — improve in flavour after frost; harvest as needed through winter
- Kale and Brussels sprouts — begin harvesting; both improve after cold weather
Key October Tasks
- Clear spent summer crops and incorporate compost or well-rotted manure
- Mulch beds with 5–10cm of compost to protect soil structure over winter
- Protect tender crops still in the ground with fleece or cloches
- When clearing finished pea and bean plants, cut the tops off and leave the roots in the soil (RHS)
- Clean and store tools before winter
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to plant garlic in October?
No — October is prime time. The RHS says garlic is usually planted from mid-autumn to early winter, and some varieties suit late winter or early spring planting, so a missed autumn window is not necessarily too late (RHS).
Is it too late to sow broad beans in October?
Not in mild areas or very sheltered sites, where the RHS lists October and November sowings (RHS). Colder gardens are better waiting for spring or sowing in pots in an unheated greenhouse.
Is it too late to plant onion sets in October?
October is when the RHS lists finishing planting overwintering onion sets (RHS). On heavy or waterlogged soil, start them in modules indoors instead and plant out later.
Can I plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes in October?
Bare-root plants are only sold while dormant, in winter and early spring (RHS). October is the month to order; plant as soon as they arrive and the soil can be worked. Raspberry canes can go in any time while dormant, November to March (RHS).
What vegetables can you grow in autumn and winter in the UK?
Outdoors in mild areas: garlic, overwintering onion sets, broad beans and peas. Under cover: corn salad, land cress, oriental leaves and spinach. Harvest-wise, kale, leeks, parsnips and Brussels sprouts carry on through winter. See the UK planting calendar for the full year.
Can I sow spinach outdoors in October?
Not reliably — outdoor spinach sowing is best done by August or September at the latest. From October, grow it under cover in a cold frame or greenhouse instead.
🌱 Did You Know? Overwintered broad beans are significantly more resistant to blackfly than spring-sown plants — they develop tougher stems and can be pinched out earlier, removing the soft growing tips that blackfly target.
Sources checked for this page (RHS)
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/vegetables/garlic/grow-your-own
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/planting-trees-shrubs
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/fruit/raspberries/grow-your-own
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/plants/types/hedges/planting
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/plants/daffodils/growing-guide
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/plants/allium/growing-guide
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/in-month/october-jobs
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/vegetables/broad-beans/grow-your-own
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/vegetables/onions/grow-your-own
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/vegetables/growing-for-winter
- RHS — rhs.org.uk/vegetables/spinach/grow-your-own
Plan Your Whole Year
Month-by-month sowing and planting pages for the 20 core vegetable crops in the UK Garden Planner.
Get the Garden PlannerPlan your October beds
Turn this month's list into a layout: sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner, then follow the whole season with the UK Vegetable Garden Planner (printable PDF, 80 pages). For the full year, see the UK vegetable planting calendar, browse every crop in the UK growing guides, or use the UK site directory.
Last updated 29 September 2026
October at a glance: what to sow, plant out and harvest
In October, UK gardeners can sow broad beans in mild areas, hardy peas, green manures and winter salads under cover. You can start microgreens, herbs, lettuce and oriental leaves under cover, plant out garlic, autumn onion sets, shallots, spring cabbage and hardy salads, and harvest pumpkins, squash, leeks, kale, carrots, beetroot and maincrop potatoes.
| October task | Good UK options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | Broad beans in mild areas, hardy peas, green manures and winter salads under cover. | Check soil moisture and local frost risk before sowing. |
| Seeds to start indoors or under cover | Microgreens, herbs, lettuce and oriental leaves. | Protected sowings help you control temperature, pests and watering. |
| Vegetables to plant out | Garlic, autumn onion sets, shallots, spring cabbage and hardy salads. | Water transplants well and protect young plants where weather or pests are likely. |
| What to harvest | Pumpkins, squash, leeks, kale, carrots, beetroot and maincrop potatoes. | Harvest little and often, then record what clears space for the next crop. |
Vegetables to sow outdoors in October
Sow broad beans in mild areas, hardy peas, green manures and winter salads under cover. Use small repeat sowings where possible so the harvest is easier to manage and gaps do not sit empty.
Seeds to start indoors or under cover
Start microgreens, herbs, lettuce and oriental leaves under cover. This is useful when outdoor conditions are too cold, too dry, too exposed or too pest-prone for reliable germination.
Vegetables to plant out
Plant out garlic, autumn onion sets, shallots, spring cabbage and hardy salads. Match the planting window to your local weather and give new plants enough water while roots establish.
What to harvest in October
Harvest pumpkins, squash, leeks, kale, carrots, beetroot and maincrop potatoes. Keep notes on what performed well so next year's plan is based on your own garden rather than memory.
Jobs for the vegetable garden in October
Collect leaves for leaf mould, cover bare soil, clear finished crops, check stored harvests and protect hardy crops.
Common mistakes in October
Avoid planting garlic or onions into waterlogged ground, leaving squash outside through hard frost, storing damaged crops and leaving bare soil exposed all winter.
Printable monthly checklist
For October, write down four columns: sow outdoors, start under cover, plant out and harvest. Add one line for weather notes, one for bed space, and one for the next crop so the month turns into a practical plan.
Related UK planting guides
Use the vegetable planting calendar UK, compare what to plant in September UK and what to plant in November UK, then check when to plant potatoes UK, garden planning UK and winter gardening UK.
FAQ section
What vegetables can I plant in October in the UK?
In October, UK gardeners can sow broad beans in mild areas, hardy peas, green manures and winter salads under cover. You can start microgreens, herbs, lettuce and oriental leaves under cover, plant out garlic, autumn onion sets, shallots, spring cabbage and hardy salads, and harvest pumpkins, squash, leeks, kale, carrots, beetroot and maincrop potatoes.
What seeds can I sow outdoors in October?
In October, outdoor options include broad beans in mild areas, hardy peas, green manures and winter salads under cover. Adjust the list for your local soil, weather, frost risk and available protection.
Is October too late to plant garlic?
No. October is a normal garlic planting month in many UK gardens, as long as the soil is free-draining and not waterlogged.
Turn This Month's Jobs Into A Plan
Month-by-month advice works best when it becomes a written sowing list, bed plan, and follow-up task list.
Keep going
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.