October Fruit, Vegetable, and Herb Care Guide

Tidying Up the Vegetable Garden

• Remove old crops and finished vegetables from the garden.
• Do not allow weeds to build up; remove them or spray as needed.
• Dig over the ground roughly to allow it to weather during the winter.

Storing Root Vegetables

• Potatoes, carrots, and swede turnips can be stored in suitable conditions, such as a cool shed with an earthen or concrete floor, or an outdoor pit.
• Take precautions against rodents when storing root vegetables.
• Parsnips generally keep better when left in the ground.

Planting and Pruning Fruit Trees and Bushes

• Plant fruit trees and bushes, which are available now in garden centers.
• Prune raspberries, blackcurrants, and gooseberries.
• Remove any rotten fruit from trees to prevent the spread of brown rot, especially in apples.

Planting and Overwintering Crops

• Spring cabbage plants can still be planted in October.
• Early cauliflower plants can be overwintered in a cold frame, if available.
• Strawberries can be planted now.
• Cut back asparagus fern and remove weeds if the fern has turned yellow.

Harvesting and Storing Fruit

• Fruit crops can be picked and stored, using flat shelves or trays for pears and open-necked plastic bags for apples.
• Overmature vegetables should be chopped up and composted.