Gardening tips for October

As the longer nights draw in, it reminds us that we are rapidly approaching Halloween – and what better way to celebrate than with a pumpkin.
To ensure your pumpkins are in prime condition remove the leaves around the fruits to allow sunlight to ripen the skin.
Place a paving slab or old plate under the pumpkin to allow air to circulate and assist in the drying process. The same procedure can be applied to marrows and will allow them to be stored for longer when harvested.
Outdoor tomatoes can be dug up with remaining fruit attached and hung upside down in the shed or greenhouse to allow the fruit to ripen.
Parsnips will be almost ready for harvest but are best left in the ground until the first frosts as this greatly improves their flavour.
Now is the time to plant autumn Japanese onion sets for a crop next summer using varieties such as Senshyu Yellow.
And for continued fresh salad, sow radishes, mustard, cress and winter lettuces in growing-bags under glass or in pots on a windowsill in a temperature of around 16°C (61°F).
Finally, as areas of your plot become vacant, dig them over in readiness for the winter weather which will help to improve the soil structure by breaking down large clumps into crumbly particles.
This also allows you to clear spent crops which harbour pest and diseases and spread the work over several weeks rather than having to clear the plot in one go.