October in the garden | Sarah Raven's Kitchen and Garden

October in the garden | Sarah Raven's Kitchen and Garden: "Grow Your Own"
Grow Your Own Veg and Salad Peas and beans that have gone over can be cut down to ground level, and their roots left in the soil to be dug over – they then break down and return vital nitrogen to the earth. You can also sow broad beans this month for good early pickings in May and June next year. Plant shallots, onion sets and garlic now for the best sized bulbs next year. Cut back Jerusalem artichokes and asparagus to ground level. Dig over veg beds as their contents go over – cold weather can often help to break down any large clods of soil in to smaller, more free draining particles, ready for the next sowing. Cover any productive salad plants with cloches to protect from the frosts. Herbs Hardy herbs can be planted out in guttering in a south-facing spot. Pot up less hardy herbs such as parsley, chives and French tarragon and bring inside into a sunny, frost free spot. Cut back stems of Oregano and Marjoram that have flowered, to just above ground level.
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