Last updated on October 4th, 2015
Happy October, everyone! This month, I’m planting bulbs, baking cinnamon rolls (yum!), and designing window gardens. Wanna watch me work? Check out this month’s list of House and Garden Chores.
First things first, check heating systems. My 2 furnaces (one oil, one gas) were serviced in September. Fireplace chimneys will be swept next week.
Leaves. Rake these up, but don’t throw them away. Why? Because autumn leaves are the best soil amendment on earth. I shred, compost, and use this free material all over my garden. More details in this post: Why I Save My Autumn Leaves.
Bulbs. If possible, plant these out no later than October 15. Tulips, hyacinths, and other “Dutch” bulbs need time to grow roots before the ground freezes.
And if your newly-planted bulbs are bothered by squirrels, you can easily protect them. The bulbs I mean. Here’s how.
Hostas. Remove withered foliage, but wait until spring to divide and/or relocate the plants. I use hostas to edge the paths of my Woodland Garden (above).
Iris. Remove only the foliage which has yellowed. Green leaves are still providing nourishment to the rhizomes.
Peonies. Cut off foliage as it fades. October is the proper month for planting and relocating peonies.
Shrubs. You can buy these at steeply-discounted prices now. I can heartily recommend flowering quince ‘Cameo,’ pictured above, which opens the spring season with lavish, fully-double, peach-colored blooms.
Watering. Plants that have suffered drought are prone to winterkill. So if autumn rains don’t come your way, you’ll need to soak your perennials deeply and finally by the third week. This way, they’ll go dormant in good condition.
Vegetable Garden. Pull up and compost all finished plants. Store wooden trellising and tomato supports. If raised beds are low on soil, just top them off with finely-shredded leaves. As they decay, the leaves will turn into rich compost. How I prepare my raised beds for winter.
Garlic. Plant the crop now. As with other bulbs, garlic needs to start making roots before the ground freezes solidly. For more details, see My Garlic Sowing & Growing Guide.
And speaking of garlic — I always plant “hard-neck” varieties. These produce the “scapes” that are required for the most delicious pesto in the world.
Shall we head indoors?
Set up a window garden! Outfit a window with glass shelves, and you can have all kinds of fun creating seasonal plant-pictures. The easy-peazy directions are here.
African violets. Place them in full sun as days grow shorter toward the end of the month. To insure continuous bloom, I nurture my plants this way.
Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncate – often misnamed the “Christmas Cactus”). For best flowering, set the plant in a cold, dim place, and do not water it for the entire month. Bring to full sun on November 1. Tips for growing and displaying this Brazilian tourist.
Geraniums (Pelargoniums). For indoor winter bloom, I prepare my outdoor potted plants this way.
Petunias. Take cuttings now, and you won’t have to buy new plants next spring. Here’s proof.
Dutch Hyacinths. Early this month, set the bulbs in little vases, or “hyacinth jars.” Then place the vases in a dark, cold (but not freezing) place for 12 weeks of rooting. (French-Roman varieties require only 5-6 weeks in cool darkness.) More details in my handy hyacinth-forcing guide.
And finally, cook something! I can highly recommend each of the following autumn delights (click highlighted text for my step-by-step recipes):
You will love these exquisitely-perfumed Autumn Spice Cookies…
And these dreamy-delicious Pumpkin-Spiced Cinnamon Rolls…
And this soul-warming Carrot-Ginger-Orange Soup.
What are you planting, cleaning, or cooking in October? You can let me know by leaving a comment. As always, I love hearing from you.
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Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
If it ever stops raining, I will take advantage and begin to edit and rearrange perennial clumps and insert new acquisitions. I have a list of “singles” and clumps that are in the wrong place or started up on their own and need to be lifted. I don’t think I’ll get to every one of them but I need to make a big dent in this job before I am busy raking leaves, literally millions of which will be collected and stashed safely, like any treasure.
Today’s cooking included a piled-high-fruit-pizza using my own fresh-picked ‘Chicago Hardy’ figs and some store-bought pears, pecans, both feta and chèvre (using up leftovers in the cheese drawer), plus honey and a bit of pepper to set off the sweetness.
I hope to clean out my garden shed. It’s probably not going to happen, but I remain hopeful. I had the same goal in 2014 and 2013. More’s the pity.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Oh, Beverly. I want that pizza. And I want it…now!
MARY E. says
Thank you so much for your blog on facebook. I really enjoy spending some time with you each week. I am passed many of your outdoor activities but you remind me of many beautiful days spent out in the lawn and garden. I do try the recipe s and love the scape pesto and tried it with the garlic chives too. Yum, I FROZE IT IN CUBES AND USE IT FOR SOUPS!
THANK YOU AGAIN. I WILL BE TUNING IN.
badger gardener says
Someone gave me a mini-greenhouse that they did not want. It is a simple baker’s rack type thing with a plastic cover. I seeded some containers in late summer with lettuce mix, arugula, and chard and am anxious to see how long I can keep the season going.
I have to do some special cleanup of the raspberries because unfortunately I was introduced this year to Spotted Wing Drosophilia, or Asian fruit fly. Unlike her native counterpart who prefers rotting fruit, this bug is very happy to invade a raspberry that is just starting to color. Hence, beautiful, plump, perfect looking raspberries are filled with maggots. I had to “bake” the entire fall crop in plastic bags. The worst part of this drama is that my neighbor also grows raspberries and when I pointed out the invasion to her, she was inexplicably not bothered and therefore has just let her raspberries stand, and continued to harvest, adding to the infestation. So my cleanup is likely all for naught. I know we all eat lots of bugs each year without knowing it, but once you see a maggot wriggling around in your fruit…ick! Hoping these pests do not find my strawberries next year and that the raspberries are not doomed.
Rosie S says
I, too, am planting garlic..Chesnok Red! They DID have the best scapes I have ever seen this year! Also planting alliums. We cleared out our tomato and squash plants today…the voles found our raised beds and chewed on the plants and veggies…..bleh…. I DO NOT like voles! As far as cooking… I am SO going to make those spice cookies! Thanks for the fun and informative post!
Robin says
Mmmm, garlic scapes! My favorite vegetable! I first had them in South Korea where, until two years ago, I taught English at a university. This year I decided to try my hand at gardening to save a little money – I’m the 24/7 caregiver for my parents who both have Dementia and we’re all living on my dad’s pension. I’ve got a lot to learn about gardening, but I did get some nice cucumbers. I’m about to plant some Shilla garlic especially for the scapes. I prepare them sautéed with bacon, as I learned in Korea. Yum!
I also started a compost bin this year. I made it from old pallets I got on our local Freecycle board. Now, if only someone nearby had a leaf shredder, I’d be all set!
I’ll be planting some bulbs as well: crocus, daffodil, and hyacinth. I think I’ll force a few and follow your suggestions.
Happy Fall!
Kathleen J says
Perfect List – I hope I have time to do half! You’re amazing!
Julie R says
Hi Kevin, you asked what we will be doing in October ? Well, for starters, I am waiting until my tomatoes get done producing yummy tomatoes and then I will clean up my garden area. I will also be cleaning up the flower gardens as plants turn brown. And right now I am just enjoying the changing colors of all of the leaves on our trees and some shrubs. Once the leaves fall, I will be raking, raking, and I did mention raking ? Ha Ha = ) and using the leaves to put on top of the gardens. I have 3 small flower gardens and a small veggie garden which could use the leaves for compost.
Hi Robin who wrote post # 6. I just wanted to give you a pat on the back for all that you are doing to be taking care of both of your parents who you mentioned have Dementia. I know how hard it is, because I was also taking care of my mom who had Dementia, until recently. She passed away about 8 months ago now, and I miss her dearly.
From Julie R
kyle says
Hi Kevin:
The only thing I’ll be doing in October is rehabbing a knee replacement. Bummer! I wish I were collecting leaves.
So here’s my question. Because of my surgery, I planted my Spider Lily bulbs mid September. Now they’re sprouting. Is this a problem?
Happy Halloween!
Marjie T. says
Thank you for all the great reminders and good ideas for this month. There is so much to do that it is easy to let things fall off the radar. I leave most of my “flower” garden standing for seed and wildlife cover…makes for a bit of a mess in spring but it also brings in so many wonderful birds all winter.
The other thing to remember is to fence in the young trees and the shrubs that the deer are likely to munch up over the winter…but be sure to think about planting cedars and things they can eat as well. I fence my little cedars to deer height until they grow well over that and then when they are big enough, the fencing comes down and the deer can eat the lower levels. It’s a great compromise.
October is also a good glossy buckthorn-pulling time.
Mary in Iowa says
Yesterday I went out to pick raspberries, check for ripe tomaotes and peppers, and that was it. But you spurred me on, and I pulled out all the 30 tomato plants, 22 pepper plants, and the entire 4×12 strawberry bed which needs re-doing next year. It all went in the 6×10 compost pen and was covered by 4 giant leaf bags of shredded leaves left from last year. Today my horsewoman friend is bringing a massive delivery of equine gold for the next layer. Started harvesting the mature compost from last fall’s pen and will work it into the new 7×25 bed before planting it with the last of the winter-sown beauties and division transplants. Have 3 each of Holly and Clethra shrubs to get in the ground in the next few days, and lots of boxwood cuttings rooted in pots. October is beautiful. Life is good.
Linda says
Had a busy week at work and am feeling warm and cozy quilting on the couch with our three little dogs and looking outside at the windy, rainy day! 🙂 Must soon bring in my summer hanging potted annuals to live in the sunny bay window for as long as possible!
Joan Higgins says
I love the picture of the house. Makes me “homesick”. Your home is beautiful. I can feel the ambiance. Thanks for sharing. I am going to use the recipe for pie dough soon. Blessings to you.
Joan Higgins says
Also love the photo of the iris-I looked at it long and hard and could smell that wonderful fragrance that I can still remember. It’s a joy to look at all your photos. Thank you so much.
Richard says
I have a small garden of mixed vegetables, perennials, and annuals. Can I mulch them all down and spread on the garden? Thanks.
Diane says
Wow! So much great information! Thanks for sharing!
bon says
Good Afternoon Kevin Lee…..A beautiful home indeed…I can smell those spice cookies…..My question relates to bringing potted herbs in before frost hits here in N.E. Ct….They do well for awhile then they get buggy…Any suggestions…..Thank you Bonnie Lee
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Richard – No sure what you mean by “mulch them all down.” But if you are talking about cutting back perennials and pulling up annuals and then laying the works on top of the garden bed, then my answer is a resounding “yes.” The plants/clippings will eventually decompose and improve the soil. To hasten decay, chop them first.
Hi Bon – Those spice cookies are exquisite! I hope you’ll try them. Regarding herbs, I always blast the foliage with water before bringing the pots indoors. The firm spray dislodges most pests. Then I cut back the foliage rather drastically — to within an inch or so. When located in a cool, sunny window (65 degrees max), the herbs quickly send up new growth.
Jan says
I want to know how you stay so thin. You’re always making pies and cinnamon rolls and other deserts! I just finished planting my winter veggie garden. Here is Central California I can have a veggie garden all year long. I just put in lots of lettuces, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, beets, turnips and other root crops, onions, garlic, and peas. Hopefully, we will get some much needed rain!! I know that the East Coast has been inundated with rain, but we desperately need it! Thank you so much for your great blog and great recipes!!!!
Cheryl hodges says
I hive in Montana and have a greenhouse with a big hot tub attached to the house. I used to have a pond and plan on building one but have a water trough in the greenhouse with water plants. I have wineglass es, antique aquariums and old glassware with water plants in them. It’s so relaxing to have these through the house.
Mary says
Love your website. I look forward to your garden and recipes each week. Do you have a favorite recipe?
Alicia Razvi says
I stumbled across your blog this morning attempting to learn about seeds I collected from my perennials, and LOVE what I found! Your pictures and home and ideas are beautiful/ wonderful! I do wonder what your grow zone is? I live in 4 and wonder how that matches up to what you are doing and when you are doing it. Cannot wait to begin receiving your weekly update!