October is the mid-spring period, where flowers bloom in abundance, and the warmer weather with rain bringing ideal conditions for lush plant growth.
Despite the warming weather, cold nights and frosts can still be expected this month, so it’s important to protect tender plants and seedlings.
This month can be quite windy, with high winds during thunderstorms in country Victoria. There’s a fair amount of rain too, with rain on half the days of the month in Hobart.
Snow is less likely but can still fall in the Snowy Mountains, Victorian Alps, and Mount Wellington in Tasmania.
Things to Do This Month:
- Plant evergreen shrubs and trees (including citrus trees).
- Relocate evergreen shrubs, as they’re able to regrow their roots during the mild weather.
- Set up windbreaks (e.g. plastic tree guards) to protect newly planted evergreen trees and shrubs.
- Plant potted deciduous fruit trees and vines, since they are in leaf and have growing roots, they can be planted anytime, but the best time is in spring & autumn when weather is mild.
- Relocate any self-seeded annuals to better locations in the garden.
- Tidy up overgrown plants and tie growing vines back to supports or wires.
- Continue propagating plants by taking cuttings or layering (ground layering and air layering).
- Feed brambleberries (raspberries, blackberries & hybrids) and currants.
- Last chance to remove dead winter growth, and to dig up and divide perennial plants
- Clean out ponds and water gardens, divide waterlilies, plant new aquatic plants.
Vegetables and Herbs to Grow in October (Cool & Alpine Climate)
| October Seeds to Sow and Seedlings to Plant (Cool & Alpine Climate Australia) | Sow/Plant | Harvest (weeks) |
| Amaranth | dst | 7-8 |
| Angelica | s | 18 months |
| Asparagus | plant crowns | 2-3 years |
| Asparagus Pea | d | 8-11 |
| Basil | s | 10-12 |
| Beetroot | dst | 7-10 |
| Borage | s | 8-10 |
| Broccoli | st | 10-16 |
| Burdock | d | 17-18 |
| Cabbage | st | 8-15 |
| Cape Gooseberry | dst | 14-16 |
| Capsicum | st | 10-12 |
| Carrot | d | 12-18 |
| Cauliflower | st | 15-22 |
| Celeriac | st | 14-28 |
| Celery | st | 17-18 |
| Chilli | st | 9-11 |
| Chives | dst | 7-11 |
| Collard Greens | dst | 8-11 |
| Coriander (Cilantro) | dst | 4-6 |
| Cucumber** | st | 8-10 |
| Daikon | d | 8-10 |
| Dill | dst | 8-12 |
| Eggplant | d | 12-15 |
| Endive | dst | 10-11 |
| Fennel (Bronze) | dst | 14-15 |
| Fennel (Florence) | dst | 14-20 |
| French Tarragon | t | 30-40 days |
| Globe Artichokes | s | 42-57 |
| Horseradish | plant crowns | 16-24 |
| Jerusalem Artichokes | plant tubers | 15-20 |
| Kale | dst | 7-9 |
| Kohlrabi | dst | 7-10 |
| Leeks | dst | 15-18 |
| Lemon Balm | dst | 8-10 |
| Lettuce | dst | 8-12 |
| Luffa | st | 11-12 |
| Marrow** | dst | 12-17 |
| Mint | dst | 8-12 |
| NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens) | dst | 8-10 |
| Oregano | st | 6-8 |
| Parsley | dst | 9-19 |
| Parsnip | d | 17-20 |
| Peas | dst | 9-11 |
| Potato | plant seed potatoes | 15-20 |
| Pumpkin | dst | 15-20 |
| Radish | d | 5-7 |
| Rhubarb | plant crowns | 12 months |
| Rocket | d | 21-35 days |
| Rockmelon (Cantaloupe) | s | 10-16 |
| Rosemary | d | 12 months |
| Sage | dst | 18 months |
| Salsify | d | 14-21 |
| Silverbeet (Swiss Chard) | dst | 7-12 |
| Snow Peas | dt | 12-14 |
| Spinach | dt | 5-11 |
| Spring Onions (Bunching Onions) | dst | 6-10 |
| Squash | dst | 7-8 |
| Strawberry (seed) | s | 12 months |
| Strawberry (plants) | t | 11 |
| Summer Savory | d | 6-10 |
| Sunflower | dst | 10-11 |
| Sweet Corn** | d | 11-14 |
| Sweet Marjoram | dst | 8-10 |
| Thyme | dst | 42-52 |
| Tomatillo | s | 10-14 |
| Tomato | s | 8-17 |
| Turnip | d | 6-9 |
| Watermelon | s | 9-14 |
| Winter Savory | d | 6-10 |
| Yacon | plant tubers | 25 |
| Yam/Oka | plant tubers | 15-20 |
| Zucchini (Courgette, Marrow) | st | 6-9 |
Key:
d = sow seeds directly into ground
s = sow seeds into seed tray
ds = sow seeds directly into ground or seed tray
t = transplant seedlings (small plants) into larger pots or plant into ground
*= frost tender
**= sow after frost
Download printable PDF version of Gardening Calendar (Australian Cool & Alpine Climate) – October
To help improve these garden calendars, feedback and additional information from readers is greatly appreciated! Australia’s climate varies considerably, and local knowledge of when particular things need to be done in the garden are most helpful to others living in those area, so please feel free to share.