Vegie crops to plant in October

In temperate, subtropical and arid/semi arid zones, October marks the general starting point for a broad range of warm season crops. In very cold areas the soil may still be too cool for cucurbits and eggplants, but a polytunnel or improvised cold frame can allow you to start seedlings under cover before planting out later in the month.

Give the following a go: Solanaceous crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, capsicums, tomatillos and chillies. Also subtropical/tropical members of the nightshade family such as tamarillos, naranjillas and pepinos. Grasses such as sweet corn, flour corn, pop corn and lemongrass. Cucurbits including pumpkins, watermelon, rockmelon, cucumber, zucchini, and summer squash. Legumes such as climbing beans, bush beans, runner beans, soybeans, and chickpeas. Annual/biennial herbs such as basil, dill, and parsley. Roots such as beetroot and carrot.

In warmer areas it may pay to wait until late summer to sow a new batch of root crops.

In the tropics, subtropics, and warm temperate zones try sweet potato instead.

In cooler areas there’s still time to sow salad greens, Asian greens, brassicas (use netting to protect from cabbage white butterflies), and peas.

In the tropics try planting peanuts, taro, turmeric, yam, ginger and cardamom.