What Seeds to Sow in October in Temperate European Climates
October is a quieter but still useful sowing month in temperate European gardens. Hardy annual flowers can still be sown for earlier blooms next year, particularly in mild and sheltered areas, while sweet peas and other less winter-hardy flowers are better started under cover. In the vegetable garden, concentrate on cold-tolerant leafy crops and winter salads such as spinach, rocket, lettuce, radish and pak choi.
Shop Seeds for October SowingHardy Flowers to Sow Outdoors in October
October is one of the final opportunities to direct-sow hardy annual flowers before winter. Autumn-sown plants can establish early and produce stronger plants and earlier flowers the following spring and summer. Outdoor sowing is most reliable in mild or sheltered gardens. In colder regions, sow into pots or modules and overwinter under protection.
Calendula
Calendula is particularly well suited to autumn sowing and is one of the easiest flowers for beginners. Choose Ivory Princess, Funky Stuff or Bull's Eye.
Browse calendula seeds →Cornflowers
Cornflowers tolerate cool conditions well and autumn sowing can produce larger plants and earlier flowers than spring sowing. Choose Cornflower Blue Boy, Black Ball or Cornflower Mix.
Browse cornflower seeds →Nigella
Nigella, or love-in-a-mist, is a hardy annual that establishes well in cool conditions. Direct sow where you want the plants to flower. Choose Nigella Miss Jekyll Skyblue, Miss Jekyll Rose or Nigella Sativa.
Browse nigella seeds →Annual Poppies
Poppies are excellent candidates for autumn sowing. Sow directly into prepared soil because their roots dislike being disturbed once established. Recommended varieties include Amazing Grey, Lauren's Grape, Dawn Chorus, Purple Peony and Black Peony.
Browse poppy seeds →Linum Grandiflorum Mix
Linum Grandiflorum Mix is a hardy annual suited to informal borders and naturalistic planting. Autumn sowing can produce an earlier display the following year.
Browse linum seeds →Lunaria
Lunaria, also known as honesty, can be autumn-sown in mild areas. Spring flowers are followed by distinctive translucent seed pods. Choose Lunaria Violet or Lunaria White.
Browse lunaria seeds →October Flower Sowing Tip
Choose free-draining soil and avoid sowing into cold, waterlogged ground. In colder or exposed gardens, sow into pots or modules instead so young plants can be moved into a cold frame or unheated greenhouse during severe weather.
Flowers to Start Under Cover in October
October is a good month for starting a smaller group of flowers that benefit from a cool autumn start but are safer with some winter protection.
Sweet Peas
Sweet peas are one of the best flowers to sow in October. Autumn sowing allows plants to develop strong root systems over winter and can produce earlier flowers the following year. Sow individual seeds into deep pots or root trainers and keep young plants in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Choose King Size Coronation Mix.
Browse sweet pea seeds →Cerinthe Pride of Gibraltar
Cerinthe Pride of Gibraltar can be started in autumn, but young plants benefit from protection in colder climates. Its blue-green foliage and deep purple-blue bracts make it useful in cottage gardens, pollinator gardens and cutting gardens.
Browse cerinthe seeds →California Poppies
California poppies can be autumn-sown in mild, dry and well-drained gardens. In colder parts of temperate Europe, October sowings are safer under protection. Choose Thai Silk Formula Mix, Thai Silk Rose Chiffon, Apricot Chiffon or XL Jelly Beans.
Browse California poppy seeds →Protection Tip
Autumn seedlings generally need light and cool conditions rather than warmth. A cold frame, unheated greenhouse or sheltered bright position is preferable to a warm indoor room.
Wildflower Mixes for October Sowing
Early October can still be a useful time to establish wildflower mixtures, particularly where autumns are mild. Prepare the area carefully before sowing and use open, weed-free soil rather than sowing into established grass.
Organic Flowers: Meadow Mix
A varied meadow-style mixture suitable for informal borders, larger beds and biodiversity-friendly garden areas.
Browse wildflower seed mixes →Organic Flowers: Wildflower Mixture
A colourful mixture of flowering species for naturalistic planting and long seasonal interest.
Browse wildflower seed mixes →Organic Flowers: Bee & Butterfly Mixture
A pollinator-friendly mixture designed to provide flowers for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Browse wildflower seed mixes →Prepare the Ground First
Remove existing weeds and vegetation, rake the soil to a fine surface and sow onto open ground. In colder northern regions, September is generally more reliable than late October for establishing wildflower seedlings before winter.
Vegetables to Sow in October
October vegetable sowing is much more limited than September sowing. Concentrate on hardy leafy vegetables and fast-growing salads, and be prepared to provide protection as temperatures fall. Growth becomes much slower as daylight decreases, so October sowings should not be expected to grow at the same rate as spring crops.
Organic Spinach Renegade
Spinach Renegade is one of the strongest choices for October. It prefers cooler conditions and can be grown for autumn leaves or overwintered for renewed growth in spring. In colder areas, protect plants with fleece, cloches, a cold frame or an unheated greenhouse.
View spinach seeds →Organic Rocket Esmee
Rocket Esmee grows well in cool weather and can still be sown in October. Sow small amounts for young leaves. Later sowings are particularly suitable for containers that can be moved into a greenhouse or protected position.
View rocket seeds →Organic Radish Cherry Belle
Radish Cherry Belle is fast growing and can still produce useful crops from early October sowings where conditions remain mild. Later in the month, grow under a cloche, cold frame or greenhouse for more reliable results.
View radish seeds →Organic Lettuce Oakleaf Salad Bowl
Lettuce Salad Bowl can be grown for young cut-and-come-again leaves during the cooler months. October sowings are most reliable under protection, especially in northern and central Europe.
View lettuce seeds →Organic Pak Choi Taisai
Pak Choi Taisai thrives in cool conditions and is useful for autumn growing. Sow for baby leaves or allow plants to mature where temperatures remain suitable. Protection becomes increasingly important later in October.
View pak choi seeds →Organic Welsh Onion Ishikura Long White
Welsh Onion Ishikura is cold tolerant and can be autumn-sown for future harvests. In colder regions, protect young seedlings through winter or sow under cover.
View Welsh onion seeds →October Vegetable Tip
Think of October sowing primarily as establishing crops rather than producing rapid harvests. As days shorten, growth slows considerably. Some October-sown crops may produce a few young leaves before winter and then remain almost dormant until increasing light levels encourage growth again in late winter or spring. Good drainage is particularly important during winter.
Herbs to Sow in October
Herb sowing becomes limited in October, but coriander and parsley can still be grown successfully with protection.
Coriander prefers cooler weather and is much less prone to bolting than during hot summer conditions. Sow in pots or greenhouse beds for autumn and winter leaves. Protection is recommended in colder climates.
Parsley can still be started under cover in October. Germination is naturally slow, particularly as temperatures fall, so keep the compost evenly moist and place the sowing somewhere bright and protected.
Easy to Grow & Small-Space Friendly
October sowing is still possible even without a large garden. Containers are particularly useful at this time of year because they can be moved into a sheltered position during severe weather.
Best Flowers for Pots & Balconies
Calendula, cornflowers, sweet peas and California poppies in mild areas.
Best Vegetables for Containers
Spinach Renegade, Rocket Esmee, Lettuce Salad Bowl, Radish Cherry Belle, Pak Choi Taisai and Welsh Onion Ishikura.
Easiest October Flowers for Beginners
Calendula, cornflowers, nigella and annual poppies are straightforward autumn-sowing choices.
October Gardening Tips
October sowing is increasingly about establishing hardy plants before winter and protecting crops from cold, wet conditions.
Calendula, cornflowers, nigella, linum and annual poppies can still be autumn-sown, but success becomes increasingly dependent on local winter conditions.
October is an excellent month for autumn-sowing sweet peas. Keep seedlings cool and bright through winter rather than growing them in a heated room.
Spinach, rocket, lettuce, radish and pak choi benefit increasingly from cloches, fleece, a cold frame or an unheated greenhouse as temperatures fall.
Cold, wet soil is one of the main problems for autumn seedlings. Use free-draining beds and containers and avoid overwatering.
Mild Atlantic and southern temperate areas have a longer outdoor sowing window. Northern, continental, high-altitude and exposed gardens should move more October sowings under protection.
Shop Seeds for October Gardening
Explore hardy annual flowers, sweet peas, wildflower mixtures, winter salads, leafy vegetables and herbs suitable for autumn sowing in temperate European gardens.