Growing guides
Plain-English guides for every crop, written for first-time growers.
What to sow in October
- AppleA dwarf tree in a pot or a trained cordon fits a small garden.
- BananaTropical fruit plant; in the UK grow as a large container plant under cover.
- BasilFragrant leaves on a sunny windowsill or in a warm bed.
- BeetrootEasy roots and edible leaves. Pick at golf-ball size for sweetness.
- Bell pepperNeeds warmth: best in a greenhouse, polytunnel or a sunny, sheltered pot.
- BlueberryNeeds acid soil, so grow in pots of ericaceous compost.
- CabbageHearty heads all year round, depending on variety.
- CarrotSweet roots from deep, stone-free soil. Sow directly; they dislike transplanting.
- CherrySelf-fertile varieties such as Stella fruit on their own.
- CourgetteOne or two plants feed a family all summer. Pick young and often.
- Date palmSlow-growing palm; fruits only in hot, dry climates.
- GarlicPlant cloves in autumn, forget about them, harvest next summer.
- GrapeGrows on a sunny wall or in a greenhouse; needs firm pruning.
- KaleHardy leaves you can pick all winter.
- Laportea aestuansWest Indian woodnettle, used as a leafy vegetable and herb in parts of Africa.
- LemongrassFragrant stems for cooking; grow in a pot and overwinter indoors.
- LettuceFast, cut-and-come-again leaves. Sow little and often.
- MaizeSweetcorn — plant in a block, not a row, so it pollinates.
- MintUnstoppable herb — grow it in a pot so it doesn't take over.
- NeemTropical tree valued for its leaves and natural pest-repellent oil.
- OkraHeat-loving pods; grow under cover in the UK, outdoors in warm climates.
- OnionPlant sets in spring for summer bulbs that store all winter.
- OrangeIn the UK, grow in a pot and bring indoors for winter.
- PeaSweet pods from early spring. Legumes add nitrogen to the soil.
- PeachFan-trained on a south wall, or grown under cover.
- Peperomia pellucidaShiny bush (pepper elder), a fleshy leafy herb that likes damp shade.
- PotatoPlant seed potatoes in spring and earth them up; huge yields from a small space.
- PumpkinSprawling plants that store well into winter. Plant on a heap of compost.
- RaspberryCanes crop for years. Autumn varieties need almost no pruning.
- Runner beanClimbing beans with heavy crops. Pick often and they keep producing.
- SoybeanEdamame beans — needs a warm, sheltered spot in the UK.
- SpinachQuick leaves for spring and autumn; bolts in summer heat.
- SquashButternut and winter squash store for months after harvest.
- StrawberryPlant once and pick fruit for three to four years.
- TomatoSweet fruit all summer from a sunny spot, a greenhouse or a large pot.
- YamA climbing tuber crop for warm climates; give it a tall support.