Jobs for October
How is it October already? Three months of the year left! There will be alot of clearing away at the plot, and the same in the garden at home. I like to think of October as the time that I ‘put the garden to bed’. That being said, down at the plot I will continue to keep an eye on my Christmas sprout babies, and keep on eating that kale!
As well as putting the majority of the plot to bed for winter and enjoying the last of the harvest, this month I am excited about getting started with:
Planning. After one season at the plot I have learnt so much, and am bursting with ideas for what I want to do next season. First things first I want to be more prepared for the changing growing seasons and see how I can plot in some successional crops to keep me going through winter too. This month I’ll be getting out my graph paper and my technical pencil and plotting out what I want to do in each bed (and potentially where I can fit a small-ish polytunnel!). Watch this space for a write up where I’ll share my plans.
Buying bulbs. Next year is going to be all about bringing some colour to the allotment. I plan to keep some space for flowers. I’m thinking of transporting my dahlias from my garden to the plot and would love to have a bed full of beautiful tulips to greet me when I go down there in the Spring. I am a big fan of tulips and have many varieties in pots in my garden - they are the epitome of low effort, huge reward.
Planting. Onions set and garlic. I have heard that it can be beneficial to plant onion sets and garlic even earlier than November which is when I usually do it… I’ll try anything for a better harvest so am planning to get these in the ground before the end of the month.
Sowing. In a bid to grow more all year round I have subscribed to the Heritage Organic Seed Company Monthly Subscription Box. In the October box we have Pea ‘First Early May’, Broad Bean ‘Super Aquadulce’, Watercress, Mustard ‘Oriental Ruby Streaks’, and Corn Salad ‘D’Olanda’ (aka lamb’s lettuce).
Eating my pumpkin! I am pleased to report that the one solo pumpkin survived September and will now cure for a few weeks before I tuck in at the end of this month.