Three ‘crucial’ jobs anyone with allotment needs to do in October

Whilst the autumn and winter months might be a relatively quiet time of year in terms of your vegetable crop harvest, a gardening expert has explained that this month is in fact a “crucial” one in terms of preparation of your homegrown produce. 

Rosa Jones, a nutritionist with a love for growing organic food and the founder of Rosa’s Garden Kitchen, has revealed a list of jobs that should be carried out now in order to get a head start in 2026.

“October is a crucial month for the allotment,” she began in a TikTok video.

“Jobs done now can save yourself a lot of work next spring so let’s go through some key tips.”

Check out her advice below…

Clearance

Rosa’s first piece of advice is to clear any “spent” crops from your patch. “Pull up any old vegetables such as beans, cabbages and  courgettes – don’t leave them to rot in the bed as diseased plants can harbour pests and they will stay in your raised beds over winter,” she explained. 

Instead, Rosa recommends adding all your healthy plant material to your compst heap to create nutrient-rich soil for next year. 

Soil preparation

Now is the time to prepare your soil for the spring, Rosa continued, and in doing so, you should begin by “forking over” the empty beds to loosen compacted soil and break up any clumps. Then, add a layer of compost or well-rotted manure to nourish the ground. 

Rosa added: “If you have got heavy clay, then mixing in some grit or coarse sand can improve drainage over winter.” Once this is done, she suggests planting any garlic, shallots and onions “now” as they will establish roots over the colder months and provide you with an early harvest next summer. 

The expert also stressed the importance of ensuring such crops have sufficient space – and that they’re planted in a “sunny and well-drained spot”. 

Mulching

Rosa’s third tip concerns mulching – the process of applying a protective layer of material (known as mulch) over the surface oft the soil around plants, which improves its health and helps to deter unwanted weeds. “Mulch everything you can,” she urged. “Use straw or shredded leaves or even garden waste to protect the soil from frost.”

Rosa elaborated that this will help lock in moisture and surpress weeds. “Mulching also helps to feed the soil – as it slowly breaks down, it releases nutrients,” she said. 

As for planting, don’t forget your brassicas – cabbage, kale and sprouting broccoli should all be planted now and will benefit from the cooler weather, stretching into winter.

Rosa closed with a few additional tips, meanwhile, advising gardeners to protect young plants from slugs with netting or collars to avoid them being eaten, whilst now is the time to tidy your paths and structures – including clearing leaves, checking fences and sharpening tools – as doing so will help to prepare for next season and keep your allotment safe.