The Vegetable Plot - October

Hoe and go

One of the least strenuous ways of dealing with weed in the vegetable patch is to use a hoe. There are other benefits to hoeing in that the topsoil is broken up, better aerated and water can easily reach the roots of your vegetables. 

A weekly hoe will see the pieces of root become so exhausted they will be unable to produce more shoots. Which means there is no need to pick up weeds after hoeing unless you want to clear the area for planting, or the weed has flower heads which could still produce seed. Early October is a time for planting cabbages from August sowings, lifting parsnips to store before heavy frosts and earthing up celery. 

If frost threatens, you may want to lift carrots, turnips and beetroots as well. Fork up potatoes and leave to dry before you store them. Thin onion and turnip beds, prick off cauliflowers and plant under glass cauliflowers grown from seed. Cut down asparagus foliage and protect late crops from frost with fleece and cloches. 

• Crops in season include Jerusalem artichokes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peas
• Take hardwood cuttings of bush fruit such as gooseberries and blackcurrants
• Gather apples and pears to store
• Put greasebands around pear and apple trunks to trap winter moth grubs 
• Blanch endive
• Plant garlic cloves