October in the Garden...

10 minutes ago

9 min read

October is a month of flowers and fresh growth. Many plants are shifting into their reproductive phase, and most winter vegetables have begun to bolt and set seed. This provides the perfect opportunity for seed savers to select their strongest, healthiest plants for seed collection while removing flower stalks from any plants you don't wish to contribute to the next generation. If you're not saving seed, consider leaving plenty of flowers in the garden. They provide an important food source for native bees, beneficial insects, and other pollinators that help keep your garden thriving.

As the weather warms, it's also time to start planning ahead for autumn crops and choosing companion plants that will support your garden through the coming seasons. October is typically one of the drier months in the Redlands, so ensuring your irrigation is ready for the hotter months ahead can make a significant difference. If you have access to a timer system, setting up automated watering now can help reduce plant stress, conserve water, and keep your garden productive as temperatures continue to rise, all while keeping you out of our harsh sun.

October Crops...

Seeds

Asian Cabbages (Sak choy, Bok choy, Tatsoi)

Beans (Bush, Climbing, Snake)

Beetroot

Capsicum

Carrot

Ceylon Spinach

Choko

Corn (Sweet and Maize)

Cucumbers

Eggplant

Lettuce (Loose Leaf Species)

Pumpkins

Radish

Rosella

Silverbeet

Spring Onions

Summer Leeks

Sweet Potato

Tomato

Zucchini

Seedlings

Asparagus

Beans (bush, climbing, green and dried)

Bok choy

Capsicum

Celery

Chilies

Cucumber

Eggplant

Leeks

Lettuce

Mustard Greens

Marrows

Peanuts

Pigeon Pea

Pumpkin

Pakchoy

Spring onions

Rocket

Rosella

Rock melon

Silverbeet

Sweet corn

Sweet potato (slips)

Tomato

Watermelon

Zucchini

Herbs to plant...

Seeds

Basil

Chives

Dill

Parsley

Oregano

Lemon Grass

Seedlings

Basil

Borage

Chamomile

Chives

Comfrey

Lemon Balm

Marjoram

Mint

Oregano

Plantain

Parsley

Fennel

Rosemary

Sage

Shiso (Perilla)

Stevia

Thyme

Flowers to add...

Seeds

Asters

Coleus

Cosmos

Pansy

Salvia

Snap dragon

Zinnia

Seedlings

Amaranthus

Asters

Calendula

Cornflower

Coleus

Cosmos

Dianthus

Nasturtium

Pansy

Petunia

Phlox

Snap dragon

Salvia

Sunflower

Viola

Zinnia

October Jobs

Feeding the soil for Summer Success

In the Redlands, October is the month to prepare your soil for hungry summer crops such as tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, beans, cucumbers, capsicums, and melons. As temperatures rise and growth accelerates, these crops will draw heavily on both soil nutrients and soil biology. A healthy garden isn't just about feeding plants, it's about feeding the billions of microorganisms, fungi, worms, insects, and other soil life that make nutrients available to them.

Rather than relying solely on fertilisers, focus on building a living soil rich in organic matter. The following amendments can help create a productive foundation for the growing season ahead.

Compost

Homemade Compost is the cornerstone of a healthy vegetable garden and one of the best ways to improve soil fertility naturally.

Apply 2-5 cm of mature compost over garden beds before planting.
There's no need to dig it in. Simply spread it across the surface and cover with mulch, the soil life will take it where it needs to go.
Compost improves soil structure, increases water-holding capacity, and provides food and habitat for beneficial soil organisms.
Regular additions help build long-term soil health and resilience.

Well-Rotted Manures and Fish Frames

Animal manures and fish waste can provide valuable nutrients while helping to build organic matter in the soil

Cow, sheep, goat, guinea pig, and well-aged horse or poultry manure are all excellent additions.
Fresh manure from grazing ruminant animals such as cows, sheep, and goats can introduce a diversity of beneficial microorganisms to the soil. However, like all fresh manures it should be kept away from established plants while fresh, as the heat generated during decomposition may damage roots.
Fish frames are a traditional and highly effective fertiliser for heavy-feeding crops. Bury them around 25-30 cm deep beneath future pumpkin, corn, or tomato plantings to provide a long term food source.
As they break down, fish frames provide a slow-release source of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and trace minerals.

Worm Castings

Often called "black gold" by gardeners, worm castings are one of the most biologically active soil amendments available.

Ideal addition for seedlings, transplants, and young plants.
Provide a gentle source of nutrients without the risk of burning delicate roots.
Rich in beneficial microbes that support nutrient cycling and plant health.
Can be used to make a worm tea by soaking castings in water and applying the diluted solution around plants and across garden beds to boost microbial activity.

Organic Pelletised Fertilisers

Organic pelletised fertilisers are a convenient way to provide slow-release nutrition throughout the growing season.

Products based on manure, blood and bone, fish meal, seaweed, or composted organic materials are excellent choices.
Check labels carefully and avoid products containing excessive salts or unnecessary inorganic additives.
Apply according to package directions and water in thoroughly.
These products work best when combined with compost and mulch as part of an overall soil-building approach.

Minerals, Silica and Gypsum

Many Redlands soils, particularly older or heavily cultivated soils, benefit from occasional mineral supplementation.

Calcium-rich amendments and rock minerals help replace nutrients that have gradually been removed through harvests and weathering. Calcium is a heavy mineral and will sink in soil so yearly applications aid in keeping surface levels topped up.
Deep-rooted accumulator plants such as comfrey can also help cycle minerals from deeper soil layers back to the surface though the leaves.
Gypsum can be useful in heavy clay soils, helping improve soil structure without altering pH, along with crushed egg shells.
Silica sources such as sand, rock dust, or products like MaxSil can aid in the decompation of heavy clay soils and contribute to stronger plant growth and may improve resilience against environmental stresses.
Remember that minerals alone don't create healthy soil; they work when combined with organic matter and when the soil food web is active.

A simple recipe for a productive summer garden is to layer compost, mulch well, and keep the soil consistently moist but not damp. A longer deeper water less often is better at retaining soil moisture then a light water daily. Feed the soil biology first, and the soil biology will help feed your plants all season long.

Mulch: Nature's Protective Blanket

Once you've fed the soil, it's time to protect it. In nature, bare soil is a rare sight. Fallen leaves, grasses, and plant debris form a protective layer that shields the soil from sun, wind, and heavy rain while providing food for soil life as it breaks down.

Good mulch options include:

Leaf mulch (don't be afraid to collect fallen leaves from around the yard or from willing neighbours)
Fine wood chip
Chop-and-drop plant material
Natural arborist wood chips
Sugar cane mulch
Lucerne mulch
Seed-free straw

Apply a layer between 3 and 10 cm thick, depending on the material used. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, reduces evaporation, suppresses weed growth from the soil seed bank, moderates soil temperatures, and creates a safer environment for earthworms and beneficial microorganisms.

Different mulches perform different roles. Lucerne mulch breaks down relatively quickly and contributes nutrients as it decomposes, while wood chips provide excellent long-term protection and fungal habitat. Leaf litter sits somewhere in between, offering both protection and food for soil biology. A mixture of mulch types often provides the best results. As diversity creates a better ecosystem.

As summer approaches, a well-mulched garden can mean the difference between healthy soil and dead dirt.

Feeding the Hungry Crops

Not all vegetables have the same nutritional demands. Some crops are heavy feeders that require rich soil and regular nutrient inputs, while others perform best with a lighter touch, And they ca be grown near each other if you apply some strategies.

Tomatoes, Capsicums and Eggplants

These productive summer favourites benefit from generous amounts of compost and well-aged manure before planting. Rich soil supports strong growth, flowering, and fruit production throughout the season.

Corn

Corn is one of the heaviest feeders in the vegetable garden. Prepare beds with plenty of compost and additional nitrogen from aged manures or other organic sources to support rapid growth and healthy cob development. Corn is also a good indicator of soil compaction and low oxygen in the soil. If you see roots above the ground then you have some soil issues to amend before next planting.

Pumpkins, Melons, Cucumbers and Zucchini

These sprawling vines thrive in nutrient-rich soil packed with organic matter. Adding plenty of compost and aged manure before planting will reward you with vigorous growth and improved yields.

Beans

Beans are unique because they work in a stronger partnership with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. While they appreciate compost, excessive nitrogen can result in lush leafy growth at the expense of flowers and pods. Too much nitrogen may also contribute to malformed bean production.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes prefer fertile but not overly rich soil. Compost and a light feed before planting are usually sufficient. Excessive nitrogen encourages leafy growth while reducing tuber production below ground.

Supporting Biology Throughout the Season

Regardless of the crop you're growing, one of the best ways to maintain plant health is to regularly support the biology within the soil. Compost extracts, worm teas, bio-ferments, and other biologically active preparations can help increase microbial diversity and activity, improving nutrient cycling and plant resilience.

Remember, fertilisers feed plants, but biology feeds the soil. By focusing on both, you'll create a productive garden capable of supporting abundant harvests throughout the warmer months.

Other October Garden Jobs

October is a busy transition month in the garden. Alongside preparing beds and planting summer crops, there are plenty of maintenance tasks that will help your garden stay productive through the hotter months ahead.

Top Up Your Mulch

As temperatures rise, check the depth of mulch around vegetables, fruit trees, and ornamental plants. A fresh layer of mulch helps keep the soil cool, reduces evaporation, and protects soil organisms from heat stress.

Compost fines, leaf mulch, and small wood chips are excellent choices because they allow water and air to move through while still providing insulation. Aim to maintain a mulch layer between 5 and 10 cm deep wherever possible.

Propagate Trees and Shrubs

October is an excellent time to take softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings from many fruit trees, herbs, and ornamental plants. This is also a good time to practice grafting, as active spring growth often improves success rates. Propagating now allows young plants plenty of time to establish before winter arrives.

Lawn Care

Raise your mower height as temperatures increase. Slightly longer grass shades the soil, protects roots from heat stress, and supports the soil life beneath the lawn.

If rainfall is limited, lawns may require watering. A deep watering once a week is usually far more beneficial than a light daily sprinkle, as it encourages deeper root growth and improves drought tolerance. A healthy lawn is also an effective carbon sink, capturing and storing carbon while protecting the soil surface.

Caring for Fruit Trees

Mangoes and lychees can benefit from applications of compost extract or worm tea during fruit development. Apply these to the soil around the tree, and if watering avoid splashing onto flowers, as wet flowers can interfere with pollination and fruit set.

Most fruit trees will appreciate regular applications of compost extracts, worm teas, or nutrient-rich ferments such as comfrey or weed tea throughout the warmer months. These help support soil biology, nutrient cycling, and overall tree health.

Citrus trees are particularly sensitive to inconsistent watering while fruit is developing. Keep the soil evenly moist and avoid allowing trees to dry out, as this can lead to fruit drop and reduced fruit quality. Deep, weekly watering is generally far superior to frequent shallow watering. Underplanting citrus with flowering companions and living groundcovers can also help support soil biology and contributes to healthier, more flavourful fruit.

Roses

Continue deadheading roses to encourage repeat flowering and monitor plants closely for pest and disease issues. Roses naturally prefer cooler conditions and can become stressed as temperatures rise, making them more attractive to sap-sucking insects and other pests.

Divide Cannas

Cannas and their relatives can be divided and replanted during October. Dividing overcrowded clumps improves plant health, creates new plants for the garden, and encourages stronger flowering during the growing season.

Manage Asparagus

If you are growing asparagus for harvesting rather than seed production, remove fruiting female plant stems before seeds develop. This allows the plants to direct more energy into root and crown development rather than seed production. If you're interested in learning the difference between male and female asparagus plants, be sure to read our asparagus-growing guide.

By now it's time to come to terms with those empty garden beds. By the end of October, if you haven't planted seeds or seedlings into them, there's a good chance they may remain unproductive until the weather begins to cool. The heat and dry conditions of summer can make establishing new crops increasingly difficult, so now is the time to make the most of any spare space.

If you know certain beds will be sitting empty, consider sowing a green manure or cover crop instead. These crops help protect the soil, feed beneficial microorganisms, improve soil structure, and add valuable organic matter. After around 8-10 weeks they can be cut and incorporated into the soil, providing a nutrient-rich foundation for the next crop. In some cases, you may even squeeze in a second cover crop before it's time to begin preparing your autumn vegetable beds.

October is also an excellent time to think ahead and build the infrastructure that will make summer gardening easier. Consider setting up shade structures for tender plants and creating a dedicated seed-raising area that can be protected from birds, rats, possums, and other hungry visitors. A simple shelving unit enclosed with aviary mesh is often all that's needed. Shade cloth can be added during the hotter months, while plastic coverings can provide warmth and protection when cooler conditions return.

As the pace of planting begins to slow and the summer heat approaches, now is the time to settle into the rhythm of maintaining your garden. Keep feeding the soil, protecting it with mulch, and observing how nature responds. The work you put in during October will pay dividends throughout summer and set the stage for another successful growing season in the Redlands.

Happy gardening!