What to Sow in October for a Tiny Garden

At a glance: what to sow and plant in October

Best outdoor planting	Garlic cloves in pots
Best overwintering sowings	Hardy broad beans and hardy peas, in milder areas
Best windowsill crops	Salad leaves, pea shoots, microgreens and herbs
Best tiny-garden choice	One pot of garlic plus a tray of windowsill salad
Main caution	Waterlogged pots, wind and early frosts
Key job	Clear finished crops and refresh compost

October is a slow-start month

Most of what you plant in October will not give you much to eat until spring or early summer. That is the point. Crops like garlic and broad beans use the cooler months to build roots, so they get a head start that spring sowings cannot match.

For a tiny garden, this is useful. Pots that held summer crops can be cleared, refreshed and replanted, so your space keeps working through the winter instead of sitting empty.

If you followed our May guide, many of those summer crops will be finishing now. October is the time to decide which pots to replant and which to rest.

What to plant outdoors in October

Garlic

Garlic is the easiest October crop for containers. Plant individual cloves pointed end up, about 10cm apart, in a pot at least 20cm deep. Leave it outside in a sunny spot; the winter cold helps the bulb split into cloves. Harvest comes in early summer.

See the full guide: how to grow garlic in pots.

Broad beans

Hardy broad bean varieties can be sown outdoors in October and November in milder parts of the UK. Overwintered plants usually crop earlier than spring sowings and are often less troubled by blackfly. Choose a variety sold for autumn sowing, and a wide, deep container in a sheltered spot.

See how to grow broad beans in containers.

Hardy peas

Some hardy pea varieties can be sown in autumn in mild, sheltered areas for an early crop next year. Results vary more than with garlic or broad beans, so treat autumn peas as an experiment in a tiny garden. In colder areas, sow in late winter or spring instead.

See how to grow peas in containers.

Fruit bushes

Autumn is a good time to pot up fruit bushes, while the weather is cool and the compost is still warm. If you want a long-term crop for a balcony or patio, consider blueberries, gooseberries or redcurrants in large containers.

What to grow on a windowsill in October

Outdoor sowing slows down in October, but a bright windowsill keeps fresh leaves coming through autumn and winter.

Salad leaves

Sow cut-and-come-again salad leaves in a shallow tray or trough on your brightest windowsill. Growth will be slower than in summer, so sow a little every few weeks. See how to grow lettuce in pots.

Pea shoots and microgreens

Pea shoots and microgreens are ideal in the darker months. They are harvested young, so they need far less light and time than full-sized crops, and a tray can be ready in a few weeks.

Herbs

Bring tender herbs such as basil indoors before the nights turn cold. Hardy herbs like parsley and chives can stay outside, but a small pot on the windowsill keeps them easy to pick in bad weather. See how to grow basil in pots and how to grow herbs on a windowsill.

October jobs for a tiny garden

• Clear finished crops. Remove spent tomatoes, courgettes and beans, and compost healthy plant material.
• Refresh compost. Before replanting a pot, remove some old compost and mix in fresh compost.
• Raise pots off the ground. Use pot feet or bricks so containers drain freely over winter.
• Empty saucers. Standing water around pots in winter can rot roots.
• Group pots together. Move containers against a sheltered wall to protect them from wind and cold.
• Bring tender plants in. Chillies, peppers and basil can come indoors to a bright windowsill.
• Harvest the last crops. Pick remaining chillies, beans and salad before the first frost.
• Check for slugs. Damp autumn weather brings them out, especially under pot rims.

What not to do in October

Avoid sowing tender summer crops like tomatoes, courgettes and cucumbers. There is not enough light or warmth for them to grow well, and they will struggle through winter. Save those seeds for spring.

It is also not the time to fill every pot. A few well-chosen winter crops are easier to look after than many pots that sit wet and cold.

A simple October plan

If you only do three things this month: plant a pot of garlic, start a tray of salad leaves or pea shoots on your windowsill, and clear and tidy your summer containers. That keeps your tiny garden productive and sets you up for an early harvest next year.

FAQs

Is it too late to plant vegetables in October?

No. October is a good time to plant garlic and, in milder areas, hardy broad beans and peas. Windowsill salads and herbs can be started too.

Can I grow anything on a balcony in October?

Yes. Garlic in a pot is the easiest balcony crop for October. Hardy broad beans can work in a sheltered spot, and a bright window can keep salad leaves going.

Do containers need protecting in winter?

Mostly from waterlogging and wind rather than cold. Raise pots off the ground, empty saucers and move containers to a sheltered spot.

What should I do with my empty pots?

Clear old plants, refresh the compost and either replant with garlic or leave them covered and ready for spring.