With the arrival of autumn, many people think that the days of gardening are over. Nothing could be further from the truth! And checking it out is as simple as looking at the October planting calendar. A fantastic way to discover the crops that we can still enjoy with the most authentic flavor. Those that are the fruit of our work and care. Learn all about what to plant in October in this article.
Indeed, the October planting calendar is considerably reduced compared to other times of the year. However, this does not mean that we have to give up our crops, but rather that we will have to adapt our diet to what the garden gives us in this transitional season before the cold.
Something that we do naturally, since a good part of the crops in the October planting calendar is precisely vegetables that are common in winter recipes and stews.
What To Plant In October – Calendar
At this time of the year, few sowing still bears fruit in optimal conditions. For this reason, we should take advantage of this time of year to clean beds or urban garden tables to replant from scratch.
In this way, we will be able to take advantage of the nutrients in the substrate for those crops in the planting calendar that require it or compensate for the lack of them with other less demanding ones. This gesture of rotating tillage will prevent the proliferation of fungi.
Let’s see what the sowing calendar is in October and, more importantly, what we will have to prepare in seedbeds or what we can plant directly in the soil.
What to Plant In October – Leaf Crops
To achieve those resources we were talking about and use the nutrients, we will have to place this type of bushes where we had planted vegetables of the so-called voracious. Within this group are tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and eggplant. In this way, we will be balancing the land of crops that demand a lot of food from the soil with others that are less demanding. Here are some leaf crops to plant in October.
Lettuce
One of the recurring crops throughout the year, both for its simplicity and its hardiness, is lettuce. It is perfect for beginners as well as for more experienced gardeners. What we should keep in mind is:
- Sowing in seedlings, preferably in small peat pots.
- When the plant has at least four leaves, transplant it to the ground or a container of at least 0.8 Gallon (3 liters) of capacity.
- Gentle and frequent watering, as this crop needs moisture as needed.
- Harvest within two to four months.
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Spinach
This is one of the key vegetables in the October planting calendar. We say this because spinach is a classic in many winter recipes. Among its planting requirements are:
- Direct sowing from seed to soil or in a container, such as a garden table, of at least 0.8 Gallon (3 liters).
- Gentle and frequent watering, always avoiding waterlogging.
- Harvesting in three months.
- Seedbed with 12 pots
- It is reusable
- It measures 18 cm length by 13 cm width by 5 cm height
Arugula
Another classic of winter salads is arugula. A vegetable that has been gaining weight on the tables and that, in addition, does not present any difficulty in its cultivation. As characteristics that we must contemplate are:
- Direct sowing in soil, without the need for a seedbed.
- Abundant watering, always keeping the substrate moist.
- Harvesting in six weeks.
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Swiss Chard
Another common vegetable in the dishes of our homes when it is cold. Like the previous crops of the October planting calendar, Swiss chard is not very complicated. In short, it is as follows:
- Direct sowing from seed, with no need for seedbed or transplanting. Unlike other leafy crops, chard needs a good amount of soil. The ideal will be around 6.6 Gallon (25 liters).
- Gentle and frequent watering, always maintaining moisture in the substrate.
- Harvest in three months from sowing.
What To Plant In October – Root Crops
For the success of our harvest, we will have to plan these crops where we had planted leafy bushes, as all those previously mentioned. Here are some root crops to plant in October.
Turnips
This is a vegetable widely used in autumn and winter recipes. It is a low-maintenance plant so that, once planted, we can forget to pay much more care:
- Direct sowing of the seed, without seedbed or transplants, in a container of about 1.8 Gallon (7 liters) of the substrate.
- Frequent watering.
- Harvesting in three months.
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- Each packet contains 5000 seeds
- Sow outdoors in early spring after the average last frost date and harvest in 55 days
Onion
A somewhat more delicate crop than all those we have mentioned so far will be noticed with the onion, not so much once it is transplanted but, rather, in the previous steps. The criteria for planting:
- Sowing in protected seedbeds, preferably in small-sized peat pots.
- Transplanting into a culture container of at least 1.3 Gallon (5 liters) when the germinated stems have a thickness of just under half a centimeter.
- Watering sparingly, allowing the substrate to dry out between watering
- Harvesting in three months, and subsequent drying before consumption for six months.
Carrot
One of the favorite vegetables for children and in many of the stoves of our kitchen. And if this were not enough, it is a planting of incredible rudeness and simplicity. Plant carrot in October is perfect. What we should keep in mind is:
- Direct sowing of the seed, without transplanting or seedbed, in a container that is at least 12″ (30 centimeters) deep.
- Gentle watering to maintain the humidity of the substrate.
- Harvest four months after sowing.
Learn more about how and when to harvest carrots.
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Leeks
Leeks are the last of our proposals for the plant in October, but not the least attractive. As suggestions for its sowing, it is worth mentioning:
- Direct sowing in the ground or, if when we do it we have low temperatures, we will do it in the seedbed. The cultivation container should be at least 12″ (30 centimeters) deep.
- Gentle watering, maintaining the humidity of the substrate.
- Harvest after five months.
What To Harvest in October?
One could say that this activity is the most satisfying because it is the gratification of the work done. In October, you can harvest the last tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers because they can be damaged by the arrival of cold and frost.
The tomato is a special case that can be harvested in November if it is well cared for in the climate and has a well-developed seedling.
Woody herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage can be cut back to at least a third of the plant’s height so that both the stem and root remain strong.
In October, seeds of annual and biennial plants such as basil, parsley, and cilantro can be collected.
Pumpkin harvest is typical for this month of October. You can also harvest chard, celery, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, endive, parsley, carrots, beets, lettuce, and radishes.
We hope that this article on what to plant in October will be of great help and that you will have an excellent harvest in your garden.
