What can we do in October

Hi guys,
Further to my post in the "what are we doing this month" thread I thought I'd simplify things by making it a monthly thread. That way newbies (like me) can in future just look up the month and get a list of things they can do in their allotment. Hope that's ok with everyone.

As for me
I've planted my onion sets which seem to be doing ok

My brassicas are being ravaged by slugs or birds. They are not netted because I'm hoping the birds will predate the slugs but so far the slugs seem to be winning

I've dug the pea roots into the soil ready for next year

So what's everyone else doing in October - don't say watching the telly!

 

yeah ive been watching a lot of tv too, while ive been ill with man flu.

seriously though, ive just been:
keeping the grass cut on a high setting.
trimming the hedges. or rather scalping them lol.
harvesting my pumpkins.
digging over my veg patches for next year and adding organic material.
pulling weeds (no use in putting weedkiller on now, its too late)
tidying pond area and changing the water.
pruning fruit trees. (may be a little early for this yet but at least its done)
And finally planting my onion sets which are doing good so far, although it may still be too early for planting these, hopefully they wont bolt next year.

 

Pretty much the same as you Andrew just planted some onion sets also garlic which is all ready up. Sowed some black seeded simpson lettuce and toscan kale just trying to keep as much greenery as I can. Broccoli looks good but a little bit nibbled. Would like to remove the netting until the pigeons get hungry but is it safe yet ?

 

Pigeons are always hungry.

 

Deciding on next years seeds, digging the veg patch over and looking at the lawn from the living room...

 

Anyone twiddling their thumb with that question can come over an rake my leaves. I am still offering grilled Rib Eye. Anyway, still have some bulbs to get in, and mulching to do, some pruning. And staining outside furniture, washing outside pillows to put away in attic. Getting cat houses ready for the cold, staining the deck.

JWK, got a huge butternut squash last weekend, made a great pie out of it. Now have several cups frozen for soup and more pie. I don't use the pulp from the Halloween pumpkin, as it is not the type grown for pies.

 

I'm going to try my luck at over wintering some peas and broad beans. Marshals are offering them as winter varieties which should over winter in the ground for early crops next year. Anyone else got experience of this; good or bad?

 

Will do!

 

I've tried Autumn sown Broad Beans and think its not all its cracked up to be. In particular make sure you have a properly hardy variety - Aquadulce is the only one I would recommend, I've tried others, including The Sutton (dwarf variety), and been disappointed, but I have also had lots of plants fail when we have had a particularly wet winter, for example.

So my preference, now, is to sow them very early in New Year in 9cm pots (modules will do) and plant out in a mild period in February. They come, to my mind, just as early as Autumn sown, but have none of the disadvantages of them having to stand outside through the winter. Its great to be able to plant them with no "failure gaps" too - as it wastes space having an Autumn sown crop with gaps, come Spring.

 

Thanks, that's good advice. I think the seed suppliers just push anything they can as "Autumn Sowing" these days. Next we'll have winter tomatoes!