What to plant in October

Here's what to plant in October including biennials, verbascums and hardy annuals

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Published: October 18, 2023 at 9:49 am

Autumn is the perfect time for planting, with moisture and warmth in the soil to promote root growth. Head gardener Benjamin Pope is here to make sure your garden looks great all year round. Below are his choices for things you can plant in the garden in October from vegetables to flowers including hardy annuals and sweet peas.

Don't miss our suggestions of the best flowers in October, what gardens to visit and the gardening jobs for the month.

What to plant in October

Trees, shrubs, roses and perennials

Container-grown plants, including trees, shrubs, roses and herbaceous perennials, can be planted now, before bareroot season begins.

What to plant in October: Verbascum 'Spica' © Jason Ingram
Verbascum 'Spica' © Jason Ingram

I also plant out any biennials, such as sweet Williams and verbascums, though if small I’ll postpone planting until early spring.

Plant bulbs in borders

October is also a good time to plant bulbs to borders and meadows. I like to set them out in small, empty pots or old bulb nets, easily arranging them to my desired design before spreading and planting individually as loose swathes. This also helps to avoid any camouflaged individuals going unplanted.

Lifting and dividing can take place now, though of course this will involve cutting back your plants first, so I tend to leave this until spring, enjoying the winter seedheads.

What to plant in October: Plant up parsley this month © Getty/ 	Smith Collection/Gado /
Plant up parsley this month © Getty/ Smith Collection/Gado

Hardy annuals

Early October is when I plant most hardy annuals, along with my first sowing of early sweet peas and additional winter salad leaves including chervil, pak choi, pea shoots and rocket. I also dig up some coriander, parsley and mint, so that I can grow them in pots indoors.

Here's more on the best flowers for October

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