Jobs to Do on the Allotment in October

dorsetcountrylife
Oct 1
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

October on the allotment has a certain calm about it, don’t you think? The frenzy of summer watering, weeding and harvesting has eased off, and the ground feels a little quieter. There’s a nip in the air, the leaves are starting to colour up, and the plot starts to look less like a jungle and more like a place to tuck in for the colder months. But there are still plenty of bits and bobs to keep us busy – in that slower, more reflective autumn way.

Harvesting the last of the summer bounty.

First things first: it’s time to gather up whatever’s still hanging on. Runner beans might be giving their final hurrah, courgettes will be slowing down (if you haven’t already been overrun with them!) and the last tomatoes might need bringing indoors to ripen on a windowsill. Don’t forget your squashes and pumpkins – they’re at their most photogenic right now, and they’ll store beautifully if you cut them with a good stem and let them harden off somewhere airy.

Clearing and tiding.

It's amazing how much debris accumulates over the season – old canes, yellowing leaves, half-eaten kale stalks (thank you, pigeons). October’s a good time to give the plot a bit of a tidy. Pull up anything that’s definitely done, chop it up and add it to the compost heap, and stack your canes neatly so they don’t get slimy and brittle over winter. It feels good to clear the decks before the frosts arrive.

Planting for next year.

It's not all about endings – October is a brilliant month for beginnings too. Garlic and autumn onions can go in now; they’ll sit quietly over winter and burst into life when the days lengthen. If you’re lucky enough to have cloches or a greenhouse, you can sow a few salads and spinach for some winter greenery. Broad beans can also go in towards the end of the month, ready to get a head start in spring.

Soil TLC.

Once you’ve cleared a bed, give it a bit of love. Spread some well-rotted manure or homemade compost across the surface and let the worms do their thing over the winter. No need to dig – they’re far better at it than we are. It’s also the perfect excuse to admire your compost heap and feel smug about all those kitchen scraps you’ve been chucking in.

A spot of planning (with a cuppa).

And finally – my favourite allotment job of October – a bit of daydreaming. With the evenings drawing in, it’s the perfect time to flick through seed catalogues, sketch out where you might plant things next year, and make a mental note of what worked and what was a complete disaster (for me this year: sweetcorn = triumph, carrots = heartbreak, they just didn't germinate!).

So, October on the allotment isn’t hectic – it’s more about winding down, tucking things in, and looking ahead. A gentle month, full of earthy smells, golden light, and the satisfying sense that you’re putting the plot to bed with everything it needs to thrive again next year.