October - this is what you can sow and cultivate
The days are getting shorter, and the cold is creeping in – but it is still possible to grow! October is a fantastic time for those who want to sow for the fall, plant flower bulbs, divide and plant perennials, roses and, not least, new trees.
SOWING CALENDAR – OCTOBER
October often brings with it heavy rain. Thanks to the increased moisture in the soil, it is a good time to divide, move and plant new perennials, shrubs, roses and trees. It is easier to dig when the soil is moist and we get help with watering, so take the opportunity to renew and prepare for next year. You can also sow as many seeds as possible that can overwinter in the soil and provide an early harvest next year. If you live in northern areas, winter may have already arrived, giving you the opportunity to winter sow.
Sow in the fall for an early crop for spring and summer
You may have noticed that some vegetables and flowers appear in new places in the garden year after year. They simply sow themselves. These plants are often perfect to sow now in the fall. Some seeds even require a period of cold to germinate at all, they need so-called stratification.
Sowing in the fall is easy, but the seeds must be in the soil at the right time. Some should be sown early in the fall, while others should be sown later. For example, many biennial flowers can easily germinate in early fall, in September–October, and form a rosette of leaves right away, while other seeds are meant to rest in the soil over the winter and germinate only in the spring. The latter should be sown when the cold has set in. Always sow the seeds according to the recommendations.
If you live in warmer parts of the country, you may be able to wait with the autumn sowing of later seeds until November–December, but in colder areas in the north, it may be fine to sow now. If you are unsure about the timing, you can always experiment and sow a few seeds at a time over a longer period of time.
Seeds that can be sown in early autumn
Seeds that can be sown in late autumn
Flower seeds that can be sown in autumn
Some biennial flowers can be sown in September–October. They will form a rosette of leaves and bloom the second year.
- Carnation
- Lady's bell
- Forget-me-not
- Bluebell
- Clermont
- Pastel
Late autumn, in October–November, before the frost comes, you can also sow other flowers that will not appear until spring, for example:
- Cornflower
- Darling
- Marigold
- Various types of poppy
- Atlas flower
Autumn sowing – this is how you do it
- Make sure to remove all weeds from the soil.
- Water the soil before sowing, this will prevent the seeds from floating around immediately after you have sown them.
- Write down what you have sown where, it is surprisingly easy to forget by the time spring comes – and suddenly you have planted twice.
- If there are plants that will germinate directly, for example biennial plants, you must make sure to keep the seedlings moist until the plants have grown up properly.
Plant flower bulbs
Many beautiful flower bulbs can also be planted now in October, such as tulips, daffodils and various types of narcissus. They will bloom in spring, when after a long winter we really long for color in the garden. If you live in an apartment with a balcony or just want to decorate the entrance with a beautiful flower pot, planting flower bulbs in a pot can also be beautiful. In a so-called onion lasagna, the bulbs bloom in intervals and provide flowers over a long period.
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Grow indoors
Leafy greens for cooking, even in winter? Grow indoors all season long. Pea shoots, leafy greens, garlic leaves, coriander, basil and sprouts thrive wonderfully under a grow light. Even potted tomatoes and self-fertilizing cucumbers can be harvested all winter long if the plants are given sufficient soil, light and water.
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Cultivation and gardening in October
- Sow vegetables and flowers for an early harvest next year.
- Divide, move and plant shrubs, roses, perennials and trees.
- Grow leafy greens, herbs, indoor cucumbers and potted tomatoes inside.
- Prepare beds, raised beds and soil for next year.
- Clean out the greenhouse.
- Mow the lawn one last time and use the clippings as fertilizer in the beds.
- Harvest what you have grown throughout the season.
- Dig up frost-sensitive tubers, such as dahlias, from the ground and store them for the winter.
- Plant lovely autumn bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and narcissus.
- Water rhododendrons, boxwood, thuja and yews in autumn to prevent drying out in early spring.
Swedish garden inspirer, journalist and author of books about nature, cultivation and animals, such as "Soil", "Grow for insects" and "Chickens as a hobby".
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