October in the Garden

Pick your month

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

Chilli

It seems that most people now have at least 1 or 2 chilli plants at home – it’s become incredibly trendy. Growing...

Potatoes

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are tubers that grow and form at the plant’s roots. Plants also produce flowering shoots...

Cucumbers

Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer. Growing...

Spring Onion

Spring onions (also known as green shallots and green bunching or salad onions) are a delicious addition to a whole...

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, there are many varieties easy to grow at home, allowing you...

Raspberries

What could be better than a bowl of sweet, fresh-picked raspberries in summer? These delicious fruits are easy to grow...

Cherries

Homegrown cherries are sweet, juicy and delicious. Many varieties will be dripping with ready to pick cherries around...

Orchids

Orchids are a great addition to any home, with their exotic, delicate and diverse flowers and their beautiful shapes and...

Sunflowers

If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers. They come in a whole range of sizes from dwarf to giant and...

Allium

Alliums belong to the same family as onions, garlic and leeks, as you can tell from the aroma when you crush the foliage...

Roses

Roses are among our favourite garden plants – and deservedly so. They are versatile, produce vibrant colour through...

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...

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa is also commonly called the Swiss cheese Plant, Fruit Salad Plant or Monstera. Its large green glossy...

Philodendron

There’s a reason why Philodendrons make such great indoor plants… well several actually! They look good, aren’t fussy...

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...

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:

*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.

Check out out feeding guide for existing plants you might already have planted.

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:

Fig
Apple
Pear
Cherry
Plum
Apricot
Plumcot
Nectarine
Peach
Persimmon
Almond
Walnut
Mulberry
Pomegranate
Quince
Raspberry
Blackberry

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.