
Your Monthly Planting Guide
October
Warm, balmy days…
Longer, warmer days mean plenty of time outdoors in the garden. Mid spring is the perfect planting time in all parts of Australia – the soil is warm, temperatures are not too high and there’s often good rainfall to encourage good plant growth. The lawn mower usually gets a good workout this month, following fertilising last month.
Gardening in October
Spring Onion
Spring onions (also known as green shallots and green bunching or salad onions) are a delicious addition to a whole...
Runner beans
Runner beans, or more correctly scarlet runner beans, (Phaseolus coccineus) are among the easiest and most rewarding...
Salad leaves
Bags of salad leaves are quite expensive to buy and have a fairly short lifespan in the fridge. Grow your own and you...
Sweet Corn
Sweet Corn, or maize, won't really grow as high as an elephant's eye, but it will be sweet, tender and delicious -...
Cauliflower
Drizzled with olive oil and baked whole or sliced into steaks, cut into individual florets and wok-tossed in a stir fry...
Brussels Sprouts
You might not like the cold weather, but Brussels sprouts do! Brussels sprouts grow best in cool climates with cold...
Silverbeet
Silverbeet is also commonly referred to as Swiss chard, chard or rainbow chard. The rainbow variety has brightly...
Watercress
Watercress is a peppery, nutrient-rich leafy green that’s delicious on sandwiches and in salads. It’s easy to grow in...
Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes rambling vines grow tubers beneath the ground. These vigorous and productive vines can be grown in a...
Globe artichokes
Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) are thistle like plants that produce edible flowers - harvested and eaten in their bud...
Horseradish
Horseradish is a vigorous plant related to broccoli, cabbage and kale - but unlike its brassica cousins, horseradish is...
Patty Pan Squash
Squash or patty pan squash as they are often called - because of their UFO like shape - are an easy to grow summer...
Mustard greens
Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) are a cool season vegetable, grown for their peppery edible leaves. You can eat young...
Blueberries
Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are...
Strawberries
Who doesn’t love strawberries? If you’re a strawberry fan, the many varieties of Fragaria × ananassa are easy to grow at...
Raspberries
What could be better than a bowl of sweet, fresh-picked raspberries in summer? These delicious fruits are easy to grow...
Blackberries
Blackberries sometimes get a bad wrap thanks to the wild, thorny, weedy ones! But growing blackberries in your garden is...
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit grows on a climbing cactus that produces stunning white flowers in summer. These flowers develop into pink...
Passionfruit
Passionfruits are a popular and productive vine that will grow in most climates around Australia. They particularly...
Pineapples
Pineapples are an easy care tropical fruit, that will also grow in other frost-free climates around Australia too...
Watermelon
Watermelons grow on sprawling vines during the warmest months of the year in Australia. These sun-loving plants can be...
Pear Trees
Pear trees love a garden with cool winters, but if you choose the right variety (with ‘low chill’ requirements) you can...
Gooseberries
Gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa) are native to parts of Europe, but they’ll happily grow in the cooler parts of southern...
Plum Trees
Plum trees are productive fruit trees, ideally suited to growing in the average backyard or in a large pot. There are...
Pomegranate
Pomegranates (Punica granatum) are heat-loving trees, native to the Middle East, that grow well here in Australia. The...
Sunflowers
If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers. They come in a whole range of sizes from dwarf to giant and...
Sweet peas
The sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is an incredibly popular flowering climbing plant that produces masses of flowers from...
Snapdragons
Snapdragons are bright and cheerful flowering plants that grow in most climates. If you live in a region with heavy...
Carnations
Carnations are grown for their beautifully fringed, fragrant blooms that make a long-lasting cut flower to enjoy in a...
Poinsettia
Poinsettia is a Christmas favourite - their red and green colours are commonly used to bring festive cheer indoors over...
African Violets
African violets are typically grown as indoor plants, but they will also tolerate growing outdoors in a protected warm...
Forget Me Nots
Forget Me Nots produce dainty pale blue, pale pink or mauve flowers in spring and summer. These pretty low growing...
Rhododendron
Rhododendrons are spring flowering shrubs or trees that are closely related to azaleas, so they like similar growing...
Everlasting Daisies
Everlasting Daisies (Xerochrysum bracteatum) are a colourful Australian native daisy often called Strawflowers or Paper...
Ranunculus
Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus) make the perfect spring and early summer cut flower. They grow from dormant corms...
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums are an easy to grow, flowering companion plant that’s also edible. Nasturtium flowers have a peppery flavour...
Fiddle Leaf Figs
With their lush, upright stature and huge, glossy leaves, the Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular...
Peace Lily
With their dark green foliage and pure white flowers, Peace Lilies are a stunning addition indoors. Being just as...
Philodendron
There’s a reason why Philodendrons make such great indoor plants… well several actually! They look good, aren’t fussy...
African Violet
Cheerful, bright and compact, African violets are the perfect indoor pot plant. They have eye-catching purple, red, pink...
Devil's Ivy (Pothos)
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum), also known as Pothos, is most commonly grown as an easy going indoor plant - it’s one...
Snake Plants
Snake Plants are the easiest houseplant of all to grow. This undemanding plant will grow in the most challenging of...
String of Pearls
String of Pearls is a cascading succulent with pearl-like foliage, hence its name! These succulents thrive best in a...
Maidenhair Ferns
Maidenhair Ferns have a reputation for being fussy and tricky to grow, but they don’t have to be!
Air Plants
Air Plants (Tillandsia spp.) do not need soil to grow and they don’t really have roots like other plants - the roots...
Chain of Hearts
Chair of Hearts, despite their delicate appearance, are actually a succulent plant! Their long trailing tendrils can...
Dragon Tail
Dragon Tail (Epipremnum pinnatum) is a popular Australian native, mostly grown as an indoor plant. In the wild, it grows...
Rubber Plant
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) are very popular indoor plants because they’re so easy to grow. Rubber Plants are loved...
Spider Plant
Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are possibly the easiest and most adaptable house plant to grow! They are happy in...
Zanzibar Gem (ZZ Plant)
Zanzibar Gem, also commonly called the ZZ Plant, is a low-maintenance houseplant characterised by its shiny, wide, oval...
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema sp.) have lots of large leaves with either silver, green, pink or yellow variegation. They...
Weeping Fig
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina) are elegant houseplants loved for their glossy leaves that hang gracefully from arching...
Mistletoe Cactus
Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis campos-portoana) are easy to grow, lush plants that suit growing in hanging baskets or wall...
Parlor palms
Parlour Palms (Chamaedorea elegans) bring a tropical vibe to any home without the need for a tropical climate. They...
Tradescantia
Spiderwort (Tradescantia zebrina) is an easy-to-grow, trailing plant with multi-coloured green/purple leaves for real...
Buffalo Grass
A popular stalwart in Australian gardens for good reason, buffalo grass makes for an incredibly resilient lawn. It is...
Kikuyu Grass
Kikuya grass, or Pennisetum Clandestinum, is a vigorous plant often used in Australian lawns and common in public...
Bromeliads
Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) are a diverse group of plants with a very tropical vibe. With over 3000 different species in...
Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo paws are among the most iconic Australian plants, instantly recognisable by their unique furry and vibrantly...
Almond Tree
Almonds (Prunus amygdalus) are the edible nuts produced inside the hard-fleshed velvety fruit, that grows on a tree that...
Bougainvillea
Bougainvilleas put on a showy display of vibrant colour throughout summer. These vigorous vines are drought tolerant and...
Bird of Paradise
Bird of Paradise plants are tropical beauties with big leaves and flamboyant, colourful flowers that resemble birds...
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.), also known as Dumb Cane or Leopard Lily, are fast-growing tropical plants popular as...
Boston Fern
Boston Ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) are elegant plants with long, slender leaves that cascade over the sides of their...
Kentia Palm
Kentia Palms (Howea forsteriana) are tall, elegant palms with arching fronds on long stems that will happily grow as a...
Lilly Pilly
Lilly Pilly plants range from small shrubs to large trees - you can grow them in the ground or pots and you’ll find a...
Bottlebrush
Bottlebrush gets their common name because their fluffy, blooms are shaped like old-fashioned bottle brushes...
Lemon Trees
Lemon trees are a classic backyard staple! These productive trees are long-lived and will grow in a large pot or in your...
Christmas Bush
Christmas Bush (Ceratopetlum gummiferum) or New South Wales Christmas Bush as it’s sometimes called is an Australian...
English Ivy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a fast growing, creeping vine that is a serious environmental weed in many parts of...
Microgreens
Microgreens are the young and immature seedlings of plants with edible leaves that you can harvest and use for garnish...
Dichondra Repens
Dichondra (Dichondra ripens), also called Kidney Weed, is a fast growing, evergreen ground cover that’s easy to grow...
Vegetables
What to harvest now:
Asparagus may still be producing new spears now, but don’t harvest past the first week or so of the month. After that, allow spears to grow on to become fronds, which will help build up the crowns for next year’s crop. Rhubarb should be growing well enough now for a first harvest. Pull and twist stems to pick – don’t cut them. Trim off the bases and leaves, which can be composted but not fed to animals or poultry because they are toxic.
What to plant now:
It’s full-steam ahead in the vegetable patch now, no matter where you live! Prepare the soil by hoeing to remove lumps and weeds, then rake level. Moisten well a few days before sowing or planting.
Sow seeds or plant seedlings of the following:
- Asian greens
- Beetroot
- Broad bean
- Carrot
- Celery
- French bean
- Lettuce
- Leek
- Onion
- Dwarf pea
- Climbing pea
- Potato tubers
- Pumpkin
- Silverbeet
- Spring onion
- Sweet corn
- Tomato*
- Zucchini
*In cool to cold areas, sow tomato seeds in trays and keep them under cover or indoors until seedlings are strong enough to go into the garden, in about a month’s time.
Veggie patch tips for October:
- Water in newly planted seedlings with a liquid fertiliser for vegetables and herbs such as Scotts Osmocote® Pour+Feed for Tomatoes & Herbs or a certified organic fertiliser to give them a good start.
- After sowing seeds, water them in then wait until shoots appear before watering again.
- Hand pull or hoe out weeds as they appear – they compete for nutrients and moisture and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops.
Fruit
What fruits to harvest now:
Tropical fruits and citrus in warmer areas will be ripening now and ready to pick. There may also be some early strawberries appearing in northern regions.
Honeydew melon, watermelon and cantaloupe are in season now in hot, dry regions.
What fruit to plant:
Evergreen fruiting plants such as passionfruit vines and citrus can planted in warm to tropical areas. In temperate to cool areas, wait until the danger of frosts has passed. Potted deciduous fruit trees and vines can be transplanted this month. It’s best to get them in and established before the weather gets too warm in late spring. The range available may include:
Flowers
What flowers to plant:
It’s time to plan, and plant, for the festive and holiday seasons. Dame Edna’s favourite flower, the gladiolus, should be planted during October if you want flowers for late December. Corms take about 60 days from planting to peak flowering. Staggered plantings a fortnight apart will ensure continuity of blooms well into January.
Sow seeds or plant out seedlings of:
- Amaranthus
- Bedding begonia
- Candytuft
- Carnation
- Celosia
- Geum
- Linaria
- Nasturtium
- Petunia
- Portulaca
- Salvia
- Scabiosa
- Sweet William
- Verbena
- Wallflower
- Zinnia
Indoor Plants
Tips for Indoor Plants:
Plants inside the home assist in purifying the air as well as lending a touch of greenery to your living areas.
- Natural light is important but don’t stand pots on north or west-facing windowsills where they will be exposed to direct sun through the glass.
- As temperatures warm, make sure to humidify the air by regularly misting plants with a water atomiser.
- Wipe leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them clean.
- Feed fortnightly with ready to use Osmocote Pour+Feed Indoor Plants – no mixing required. There are also Pour+Feed products for orchids and cacti.
Lawn
Maintenance tips:
There’s still time to get a new lawn in before the weather becomes too warm. Lawn seed should be sown before the middle of the month to give it the best chance of sprouting and growing away well before the soil heats up and burns the tender new roots and shoots. Instant turf can be laid throughout the month. The key to success with any new lawn from seed or turf is keeping it well watered in the first six to eight weeks, until it is well established and has developed strong roots.
Regular mowing will keep existing lawns looking neat. Raise the cutting height to leave the grass a little longer and protect the crowns and runners of grasses from the increasing heat of the sun. A longer, thicker sward also helps keep the soil, and roots, cooler.
During dry spells, water the lawn well at least once a week (if permitted by local water authorities). Don’t be tempted to lightly sprinkle the grass every day or so – not only does this waste water but it encourages the roots to the surface where they will be exposed to the hot sun.
- If you have a broadleaf weed problem, buffalo and lawn substitutes can be treated and fed with Lawn Builder Buffalo Weed, Feed & Green Up, a hose-on product that can be safely used on all lawn types.
- Watch for bindii spreading through lawns and get on top of any incursions quickly with Lawn Builder Bindii, Clover & Broadleaf, a ready-to-use, hose-on lawn weeder that’s safe to use on all grasses.
Garden Tasks
Things to look out for and do during the month:
- Keep flowering annuals and bulbs growing and flowering well with regular applications of Osmocote Boost+Feed All Plant Types.
- The last of the spring blossom trees should be pruned now. Prune to encourage new growth that will flower next spring.
- Australian native shrubs like bottlebrushes benefit from a light trim after flowering. Cut just behind the faded bloom to encourage new shoots. Keep up the regular copper-based fungicide sprays on deciduous fruit trees to combat fungal diseases like brown rot and freckle.
- Most of the spring flowering bulbs, apart perhaps from tulips, may be past their best now but don’t cut the flowers or leaves off. Allow them to die down naturally.
Pest Control:
- Slugs and snails can be active whenever there are young plants around – Defender Snail & Slug Pellets in a bait trap will protect your plants and keep your pets safe.
- Watch for aphids and other sap-sucking pests on young plants and the soft shoots of other trees and shrubs. Defender Pyrethrum Insect Spray will control them. Don’t forget to spray the undersides of leaves as well as the top surfaces.
- Roses and other shrubs are susceptible to a range of fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew. A copper-based fungicide applied when first noticed, and repeated every couple of weeks, will control them.

Find your local store and start growing your garden.
Find your local store and start growing your garden.