What Vegetables to Plant in October in the UK

As autumn settles in and the days shorten, many gardeners assume the growing season is winding down. Yet October is still a fruitful month in the UK garden, offering plenty of opportunities to sow, plant, and prepare for both winter harvests and next spring’s crops. With the soil still holding warmth and moisture, it’s the perfect time to get certain vegetables established.

New to growing your own? Start with our guide on how to start a vegetable garden.

Hardy Vegetables to Sow Outdoors

Even as the weather cools, several crops can be directly sown outdoors in October. These hardy varieties will withstand the frosts and reward your patience in the months ahead:

Broad beans — Sow hardy cultivars such as Aquadulce Claudia or Super Aquadulce. Plant now and they will establish strong root systems before winter, giving you an early harvest in spring.

Buy broad bean seeds

Garlic — October is an ideal time to plant garlic cloves. Choose varieties suited to cooler climates and plant each clove 2–3 inches deep in well-drained soil. Plant now for strong overwintering growth and a harvest the following summer.

Buy garlic sets

Red onion sets (e.g., Red Baron) — Plant now so they root before winter and swell in spring, giving robust red bulbs by early summer. Space 10–15 cm apart with the tips just showing.

Yellow onion sets (e.g., Stuttgarter Giant / Radar / Electric) — Reliable overwintering onions that store well. Plant 10–15 cm apart in rows; harvest firm golden bulbs in early summer.

Shallots (e.g., Jermor / banana shallots) — Sweet-flavoured and ideal for autumn planting. Allow 15–20 cm between sets; each bulb forms a clump for a generous mid-summer harvest.

Peas — Winter-hardy varieties such as Meteor or Feltham First can be sown now. These establish during the cooler months and give you an early cropping head start in spring.

Vegetables to Grow Under Cover

If you have a cold frame, greenhouse, or polytunnel, you can keep your kitchen garden productive throughout the colder months:

Winter salads — Varieties of lamb’s lettuce, mizuna, land cress, and rocket thrive under cover. Sow successionally for a steady supply of fresh leaves throughout winter.

Spinach — Perpetual spinach and other winter-hardy cultivars will thrive with a little shelter, giving you nutritious greens well into early spring.

Spring cabbage — Plant out young seedlings in October, ensuring they’re well-spaced for growth. These hardy plants will be ready to cut from April onwards.

Pair your winter salads with fresh herbs. See our outdoor herb garden ideas for autumn.

Protect Your Winter Crops

From a simple cloche to a lean-to glasshouse, a little cover keeps winter salads, seedlings and tender plants growing through the colder months.

Grow It Polytunnel Supreme

A roomy walk-in tunnel with roll-up door and windows, giving year-round shelter on a plot or in a larger garden. Under £100.

Shop at Marshalls

Lean To Wall Frame, 4ft

A slim aluminium glasshouse that sits against a sunny wall, with sliding doors and shelving for seed trays. An investment buy for small gardens.

Shop at Marshalls

Grower Frame Poly Cover

A heavy-duty zip-up cover for the Marshalls Grower Frame, with ventilation flaps, ideal for patios and decking. Under £50.

Shop at Marshalls

Crops to Plant for Future Harvests

October is also a good time to think ahead. Certain vegetables planted now will lie dormant through the winter before bursting into growth when conditions improve:

Asparagus crowns — Best planted in autumn to allow roots to settle. With patience, you’ll enjoy delicious spears for many years to come.

Rhubarb crowns — Although technically not a vegetable, rhubarb is a kitchen garden essential. Plant crowns in rich soil now for crops from the following spring.

Preparing the Vegetable Garden in October

Alongside planting, October is a month for putting the garden to bed while ensuring it remains productive:

• Clear spent summer crops and add them to the compost heap.
• Dig over empty beds and enrich them with organic matter to improve structure for spring planting.
• Protect young seedlings from slugs, snails, and frost with cloches or fleece.
• Consider planting green manures such as field beans or winter rye to protect soil fertility.

Preparing beds now also sets you up for spring sowings like beetroot. Read our complete guide to growing beetroot.

Planting vegetables in October keeps your garden alive through the darker months and gives you a head start for spring. With a little planning, you can enjoy fresh greens, early peas, and a reliable garlic harvest simply by making the most of this transitional season.