Gardening in October: What to do and what to plant?

Gardening in October can be a rewarding experience, with cooler temperatures and increased rainfall providing ideal conditions for planting and growing certain crops. Whether you’re planting new crops, harvesting existing ones, or preparing your garden for winter, there are plenty of tasks to keep you busy in the garden during this time of year.

Things to do in your garden in October:

• Protect plants from the cold: As the weather gets colder, it’s important to protect your plants from frost and freezing temperatures. You can do this by covering them with blankets, burlap, or other protective materials
• Divide perennials: Dig up the plant and separate it into smaller sections, then replant each section in a new spot
• Plant spring bulbs in well-draining soil and water them well
• Deadhead flowers: Removing dead flowers from your plants can help them focus their energy on producing new growth and blooms
• Collect seeds: If you have plants that produce seeds, October is a good time to collect them for next year’s garden
• Take cuttings: You can also take cuttings from your plants in October to propagate new ones. Make sure to take cuttings from healthy, disease-free plants
• Care for roses: Prune your roses and remove any dead or diseased wood. You can also fertilize them with a slow-release fertilizer to help them prepare for winter
• Clean garden beds: As you harvest your summer crops, make sure to clean out your garden beds to make room for cold weather crops like beets, turnips, and potatoes
• Harvest squash: October is a great time to harvest squash, which should be ripe and ready to eat by now
• Mulch, water, weed, and prune: To keep your garden looking great and your plants happy and productive, make sure to mulch around your plants to help retain moisture, water them regularly, weed out any unwanted plants, and prune as needed

Things to plant in October

Sow spring cabbage, winter spinach, calabrese, early carrots, and mangetout. You can also plant onion sets and garlic. Additionally,you can plant apple and pear trees in October. It’s important to note that the specific plants you can plant in October may vary depending on your location in France and the climate in your area.

Did you manage to get all of your September tasks done? Maybe it’s good to make a start on your to-do list for November too…

Looking for more on gardening?

The climate in France is generally milder than the UK, allowing for a wider variety of plants to thrive. Many properties in France come with large gardens, providing ample space for various gardening activities. So if you’re looking for inspiration or information, take a look at our gardening page