Hello October

October is the spooky month and as we chase the chilly morning blues away with of hot mugs of tea and gain comfort in the evening from steamy bowls of stews and soups, there’s still plenty of work to be done in the vegetable patch! Soon (end of this month) the clocks will go back and bring the darker winter nights in closer, so we must make the most of the daylight we have at the moment.

Harvesting

Harvest all of the pumpkins and squashes as the children will make use of these for Halloween and the rest will make warming Soups, Mashes, R,Stews and Casseroles.

Harvest the last of main crop  potatoes, early leeks,  peas and beans and chard. Continue harvesting  spinach, carrots, celeriac, lettuce and the Oriental vegetables

Planting

It’s a great time to start planting Rhubarb Crowns, Spring Cabbage and over wintering varieties of Onion and Garlic. Sow winter Lettuce and a couple of short rows of winter hardy Peas and Broad Beans towards the end of the month to provide you with an early crop next Spring.

Soil

Now that we are in the Autumn season, this is the best time to prepare soil if you have clay soils (spring for light, sandy soils)

Autumn digging lets the soil be further broken down by frosts and rain. But do it whenever you can. Start by digging over the soil to a depth of 37.5-45cm (15-18in) and incorporating your organic material as you go

Whether your soil is light and sandy or heavy clay, digging in bulky organic matter – that is well-rotted manure, compost, leafmould, composted bark, mushroom compost, in fact anything that you can get in bulk – will help.

In light soils this provides something to hold moisture and nutrients; in clay soils it helps break up large particles so the soil doesn´t crack, drains better and is easier to work.

Digging sharp sand into clay soil may improve the structure and make it easier to work, although on a very heavy clay soil, just stick to well-rotted organic matter, as adding sand can make the soil even harder.