October in the Garden

Plant spring flowerbulbs, shrubs, hedges, and cane, bush and tree fruits this month.

Bring tender fuchsias, geraniums and other cold-tender plants into shelter from frost for the winter.

Spread manure or seaweed on emptied plots. Dig it under, and scatter fall rye seed on top.

After the first few light frosts, lift gladiolus corms, begonia tubers, and the tuberous roots of dahlias to store. In the garden protect roses, haardy fuchsias and marginally woody plants by mounding up their bases with soil from another part of the garden.

When the asparagus foliage has dried, cut down the top growth and mulch with seaweed or compost.

Prepare next spring's planting site for sweet peas by digging the soil as deeply as possible, while mixing lime and generous amounts of old manure or compost.

Dig and pot a few roots of mint to grow inside during the winter, and sow a pot of parsley for the house. Slice a small section from a clump of chives, pot it, and leave the pot outdoors to catch several frosts as a sort of simulated winter. Then bring the potted chives indoors to a cool, bright location to sprout.

From the beginning of the month poinsettias need a bright day-time location with uninterrupted dark between dusk and dawn to develop colour for Christmas.

When selecting hardy spring-flowering bulbs to plant, pay attention to their time of bloom. Choosing bulbs from among very early, eary, midseason and late types makes it possible to have a show of flowers from mid-January to June.

Fully sized tomatoes that have begun to turn light green will finish ripening indoors in cool room temperatures.

Plant or move trees, shrubs, and other woody plants in October and early November.

When the autumn rains begin, don't forget that plants growing next to the house under the roof overhang will need to be kept moist down to the plants' deepest roots.

Jerusalem artichokes, paarsnips and rutabagas will become fully flavourful only with cold weather. Leave them, and leeks, in the garden and harvest through the winter.