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What to Sow in October

October is the last full month of autumn sowing and the proper month for sweet peas. Seed sown now germinates in warm soil and then sits out the winter as a small, rooted plant, which is worth far more next summer than a fortnight saved in spring. Keep it off the worst of the wet — the losses come from waterlogging, not cold.

October is the last full month of autumn sowing and the proper month for sweet peas. Seed sown now germinates in warm soil and then sits out the winter as a small, rooted plant, which is worth far more next summer than a fortnight saved in spring. Keep it off the worst of the wet — the losses come from waterlogging, not cold.

Method
Type

40 seeds to sow in October

  • Alchemilla Mollis Seeds

    Alchemilla Mollis

    SowAugust–October

    Sow thinly and cover lightly, on a windowsill rather than outdoors. It self-seeds enthusiastically once it is established, so this is generally the only sowing you will ever need to make.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 100 seeds

  • Ammi Visnaga 'Green Mist' Seeds

    Ammi Visnaga 'Green Mist'

    SowAugust–October

    Firm the soil, scatter, cover barely. Autumn-sown it makes a far bigger plant than a spring sowing, and the domed heads last for weeks once cut.

    • Annual
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 300 seeds

  • Delphinium 'Guinevere' Seeds

    Delphinium Pacific Giants 'Guinevere'

    SowAugust–October

    Put the seed in the fridge for a week before you sow it. Delphinium germination is poor without that cold spell, and skipping it is the single thing that most often explains an empty tray.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 30 seeds

  • Delphinium 'King Arthur' Seeds

    Delphinium Pacific Giants 'King Arthur'

    SowAugust–October

    A week in the fridge first — the cold is not optional with delphiniums. Sow into a cool bright spot afterwards; too much warmth is as unhelpful as none at all.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 30 seeds

  • Echinops 'Veitch's Blue' Seeds

    Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'

    SowAugust–November

    The winter chill improves germination noticeably, which is the argument for sowing now rather than in spring. Sow into deep pots and plant out young, before the taproot has anything to resent.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 65 seeds

  • Flower Posy Seed Set

    SowAugust–October

    Sow on the surface and leave uncovered — most of this mix needs light. Started now, it flowers earlier and taller next year than the same seed sown in April.

    • Annual
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Foxglove 'Apricot' Seeds

    Digitalis purpurea 'Apricot'

    SowSeptember–November

    Barely cover it — 3mm is plenty — and sow into light shade. It is a biennial, so this is for the summer after next, which is exactly why it is worth doing now rather than meaning to.

    • Biennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 150 seeds

  • Hollyhock 'Nigra' Seeds

    Alcea rosea 'nigra'

    SowSeptember–October

    A biennial, so this is a sowing for the summer after next and there is no shortcut. Sow singly and thinly — the seedlings are large and resent crowding.

    • Biennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 30 seeds

  • Lavender 'Munstead Dwarf' Seeds

    Lavandula Angustifolia 'Munstead Dwarf'

    SowSeptember–October

    Germination is slow and patchy, and there is nothing wrong with your seed when only half of it appears. Sow more than you need, keep it bright, and be prepared to wait.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 14–28 days
    • 100 seeds

  • Love Seed Set

    SowAugust–October

    Surface-sow into a warm bright spot; the seed needs light. Sown in autumn the whole set comes into flower together next summer, which is rather the point of it.

    • Annual
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Lupin 'Noble Maiden' Seeds

    Lupinus x Russellii 'Noble Maiden'

    SowSeptember–October

    Soak the seed overnight before sowing; the coat is hard and dry seed will sit for weeks. Autumn-sown lupins make their root over winter and come away fast in spring.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 30 seeds

  • Mindful Seed Set

    SowAugust–October

    Sow onto the surface and leave uncovered. These are perennials, so the sowing is an investment rather than a season — most will do little until their second summer.

    • Perennial
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Modern Garden Seed Box

    SowAugust–October

    Rake bare soil to a fine tilth and sow straight onto it. The mix is built for a sunny, open position and will sulk anywhere shaded.

    • Germination 7–14 days under moist conditions

  • Poppy 'Falling in Love' Seeds

    Papaver rhoeas ‘Falling in Love’

    SowAugust–October

    Do not cover the seed. Sow onto firm moist soil where it is to flower, keep it warm and damp until it is up, and after that it wants nothing from you.

    • Annual
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 200 seeds

  • Poppy 'Mother of Pearl' Seeds

    Papaver Rhoeas ‘Mother of Pearl’

    SowAugust–October

    Uncovered, onto firm damp soil, and thinly — this is one to sow where it stands. Autumn sowing gives the strongest plants; thin hard in spring and resist replanting the ones you pull.

    • Annual
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 500 seeds

  • Poppy 'Shirley Double' Seeds

    Papaver Rhoeas ‘Shirley Double’

    SowAugust–October

    Press onto the surface and do not cover. An autumn sowing overwinters as a small rosette and flowers weeks ahead of anything started in spring.

    • Annual
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 2500 seeds

  • Poppy Pandora Seeds

    Papaver Rhoeas ‘Pandora’

    SowAugust–October

    Scatter thinly onto firm soil and leave uncovered. Poppies resent being moved, so sow where they are to flower and thin the seedlings rather than lifting them.

    • Annual
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 600 seeds

  • Ragged Robin Seeds

    Lychnis flos-cuculi

    SowSeptember–November

    Press it onto the surface and leave it in the light. It wants ground that stays damp, so this is the one for the corner that never quite dries out.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 300 seeds

  • Rewild Garden Seed Box

    SowAugust–October

    Clear the ground properly first — that is the whole job, and seed sown into competition simply disappears. Sow thinly onto a fine tilth and keep it moist until it is up.

    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Sweet Pea 'Little Sweetheart' Seeds

    Lathyrus odoratus

    SowOctober–May

    Soak overnight, then one seed to a deep pot or root trainer — the roots go a long way down before the top does anything at all. Overwintered cold and bright, it makes a sturdier plant than a spring sowing ever manages.

    • Annual
    • Germination 10–21 days
    • 20 seeds

  • Sweet Pea 'Matucana' Seeds

    Lathyrus odoratus

    SowOctober–May

    The scent is the reason to grow this one, and an autumn sowing brings it forward by weeks. Soak overnight, sow singly, and keep it cool and bright over winter.

    • Annual
    • Germination 10–21 days
    • 20 seeds

  • Sweet Pea 'Prince of Orange' Seeds

    Lathyrus odoratus

    SowOctober–May

    Soak overnight and sow one seed to a deep pot. Kept cool through the winter it roots hard and climbs away in spring, rather than sitting still for a month first.

    • Annual
    • Germination 10–21 days
    • 20 seeds

  • Sweet Pea 'Royal Family' Seeds

    Lathyrus Odoratus 'Royal Family'

    SowOctober–May

    Deep pots, kept cool and bright rather than warm; heat is what makes them leggy. Pinch the tips out at 8–10cm and you get a bushier plant with far more stems worth cutting.

    • Annual
    • Germination 10–21 days
    • 20 seeds

  • Viola 'Freckles' Seeds

    Viola Sororia ‘Freckles’

    SowSeptember–November

    Sow shallowly and prick out once there are two proper pairs of leaves. Sown outside in autumn it comes through the winter and flowers from early spring, which is when you most want it.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 10 seeds

  • Wild Meadow Seed Set

    Agrimony, Hemp (Eupatorium cannabinum), Bird's Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Borage (Borago officinalis), Clover, Red (Trifolium pratense), Clover, White (Trifolium repens), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Dwarf Sunflower (Helianthus gracilentus), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus), Knapweed, Common (Centaurea nigra), Knapweed, Greater (Centaurea scabiosa), Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Meadow Cranesbil (Geranium pratense), Musk Mallow (Malva moschata), Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Poppy, Field (Papaver rhoes), Purple Loosetrife (Lythrum salicaria), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Sainfoin (Onobrychis viccifolia), Scabious, Field (Knautia arvensis), Scabious, Small (Scabiosa columbaria), Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Vetch, Kidney (Anthyllis vulneraria), Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

    SowAugust–October

    Autumn suits a meadow mix better than spring. Rake it into bare soil, tread it in, and let the winter give the perennial seed the cold it needs. Do not feed the ground first — poor soil is the point.

    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Wildflower Seeds

    Agrimony, Hemp (Eupatorium cannabinum), Bird's Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Borage (Borago officinalis), Clover, Red (Trifolium pratense), Clover, White (Trifolium repens), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Dwarf Sunflower (Helianthus gracilentus), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus), Knapweed, Common (Centaurea nigra), Knapweed, Greater (Centaurea scabiosa), Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Meadow Cranesbil (Geranium pratense), Musk Mallow (Malva moschata), Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Poppy, Field (Papaver rhoes), Purple Loosetrife (Lythrum salicaria), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Sainfoin (Onobrychis viccifolia), Scabious, Field (Knautia arvensis), Scabious, Small (Scabiosa columbaria), Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Vetch, Kidney (Anthyllis vulneraria), Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

    SowAugust–October

    Autumn is the better half of the year for a mix like this. Rake it into bare soil now and the winter does the work a spring sowing has to hurry through — most of the perennials in it want that cold before they will come up.

    • Annual and Perennial
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days
    • 2 gm seeds

  • Calendula 'Pygmy Buff' Seeds

    Calendula officinalis

    SowMarch–October

    Sow March–October.

    • Annual
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 50 seeds

  • Calendula 'Snow Princess' Seeds

    Calendula officinalis

    SowMarch–October

    Sow March–October.

    • Annual
    • Germination 7–14 days
    • 50 seeds

  • Carrot 'Paris Market Atlas' Seeds

    Daucus Carota Paris Market

    SowApril–October

    Sow April–October.

    • Annual
    • Germination 10–14 days in moist soil
    • 300 seeds

  • Chives Seeds

    Allium Schoenoprasum

    SowFebruary–October

    Sow February–October.

    • Perennial
    • Germination 14–21 days
    • 200 seeds

  • Heirloom Seed Set

    SowJanuary–October

    Sow January–October.

    • Annual
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Herbal Teas Seed Set

    SowFebruary–October

    Sow February–October.

    • Perennial
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Hero Herbs Seed Set

    SowFebruary–October

    Sow February–October.

    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Komatsuna Seeds

    Brassica rapa var. perviridis

    SowJanuary–October

    Sow January–October.

    • Biennial
    • Germination 5–10 days
    • 300 seeds

  • Micro Green Seed Set

    SowJanuary–December

    Sow January–December.

    • Annual
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Native Seed Set

    SowMarch–November

    Sow March–November.

    • Perennial and Annual
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Parsley 'Italian Giant' Seeds

    Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum

    SowJanuary–December

    Sow January–December.

    • Biennial
    • Germination 14–28 days
    • 175 seeds

  • Parsley Seeds

    Petroselinum crispum

    SowJanuary–December

    Sow January–December.

    • Biennial
    • Germination 14–28 days
    • 400 seeds

  • Salad Seed Set

    SowJanuary–October

    Sow January–October.

    • Annual
    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

  • Shade Garden Seed Box

    SowJanuary–December

    Sow January–December.

    • Germination Varies by variety, typically 5–21 days

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