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.
