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Spring gets all the garden glory. It may be the busiest season for a garden centre, but some of the best gardening actually happens in fall: Trees, shrubs, and perennials establish more easily, late-blooming plants are in full glory, we’re harvesting obscene amounts of veggies and fruit, the nursery is full of gorgeous colour, and overall there’s less weeding and more relaxing. Here’s a guide to what to plant—and do—in October in BC to keep your garden productive and colourful.
What to Plant in the Garden in October
October may seem like a time when gardening activities are winding down, but it’s actually a great month for planting everything from seeds and bulbs to shrubs and trees. The cooler temperatures and increased moisture create ideal conditions for establishing plants that will thrive in the months to come.
Edibles to Plant in October in Vancouver
Even as the weather cools, there are plenty of delicious crops you can plant in Vancouver now (yes, even from seed!) to enjoy a late fall or early spring harvest. Here’s what to sow:
Garlic is a super-hardy and easy crop.
1. Garlic
Why Plant: Garlic cloves planted in October will develop strong roots over the winter and produce large, flavourful bulbs the following summer.
How to Plant: Break apart a garlic bulb and plant individual cloves pointy-end up, about 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in well-drained soil.
Learn more about choosing and cultivating garlic varieties.
2. Broad Beans (Fava Beans)
Why Plant: Broad beans are hardy legumes that can overwinter in mild climates and provide an early spring harvest. As legumes, they also add nitrogen back into the soil.
How to Plant: Sow seeds directly into the soil about 2 inches deep and 8 inches apart. They prefer a sunny location with rich, well-drained soil. Plant from September through the end of November.
Mizuna is a delightfully mild green in the mustard family.
3. Arugula and Mustard Greens
Why Plant: Arugula and other mustard greens like mizuna, komatsuna, ‘Giant Red,’ ‘Southern Giant Curled,’ Tah Tsai and Bau Sin are fast-growing leafy greens that thrive in cooler weather, providing a peppery addition to salads and sandwiches.
How to Plant: Sow seeds directly into the soil in a sunny spot, covering lightly with soil. Thin seedlings to about 4-6 inches apart.
4. Corn Salad (Mâche)
Why Plant: This hardy green grows well in cool weather, offering tender leaves with a mild, nutty flavour.
How to Plant: Sow seeds directly in the garden, spacing them 4 inches apart. Corn salad tolerates partial shade and can be harvested throughout winter.
Radicchio forms beautiful deep-red heads. Remove the outer leaves before eating.
5. Endive and Radicchio
Why Plant: These bitter greens are perfect for fall planting, adding a burst of colour and flavour to salads.
How to Plant: Sow seeds in rows about 12 inches apart. Endive prefers full sun, while radicchio can tolerate some shade. Cover with a lightweight frost protection fabric to encourage strong growth and protect from rain.
Learn more about growing hardy greens for fall and winter harvest.
6. Radishes
Why Plant: Radishes are one of the quickest-growing crops, ready to harvest in as little as four weeks.
How to Plant: Sow seeds directly in the soil about 1 inch apart in rows. Cover with a lightweight frost protection fabric to encourage strong growth and protect from rain.
Herbs to Plant in October in Vancouver
Hardy perennial herbs can be planted in October to establish strong roots before the winter, ensuring a fragrant and flavourful harvest next season.
Chamomile can be started from seed or transplanted into the garden in October.
1. Chamomile
Why Plant: Chamomile is a hardy herb that can be used for teas, skincare, and more. It’s easy to grow and will bloom beautifully in the spring.
How to Plant: Sow seeds or transplant starts in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Chamomile prefers light, sandy soils and can tolerate some frost.
2. Lavender
Why Plant: Lavender’s fragrant flowers and silvery foliage make it a garden favourite. October planting gives it time to establish before winter.
How to Plant: Plant lavender in an area with full sun and well-drained soil. It thrives in dry, sandy, or gravelly soils and can be planted from seed or as transplants.
Mint is one of the few herbs that easily tolerates shady conditions.
3. Mint and Lemon Balm
Why Plant: Mint and lemon balm are closely related hardy perennial herbs. While not evergreen, they will put on a flush of new growth in spring. Useful for teas, drinks, smoothies, and salads.
How to Plant: Transplant seedlings into rich, moist soil. Both mint and lemon balm tolerate part shade and tend to have aggressive root systems. Grow in a large container or be prepared to keep wandering suckers weeded.
4. Oregano
Why Plant: Oregano is a kitchen staple (particularly in Italian cooking), but is equally useful in the garden – in containers, herb gardens, and even as a groundcover.
How to Plant: Oregano is both drought and shade tolerant. It performs well in sandy and poor soils. In October, it’s best to transplant oregano seedlings rather than start from seed. This hardy herb will easily survive the winter, and remain evergreen to boot!
Flowers to Plant in October in BC
Believe it or not, October is a great time to sow many flower seeds. Fall sowing, sometimes referred to as pre-sowing, gives you a jump on the growing season. If you think about it, many flowers—especially annuals—drop their seeds in fall. These are called “self seeders.” We can mimic their approach by sowing many of our seeds in fall. There are a variety of hardy annual, perennial, and biennial flowers that will thrive with this approach.
Ammi’s umbelliferous flowers attract pollinators.
1. False Queen Anne’s Lace (Ammi majus)
Why Plant: Ammi produces delicate, lacy white flowers that add a meadow-like feel to gardens or bouquets. It also attracts beneficial insects.
How to Plant: Sow seeds directly in well-drained soil in a sunny spot. Ammi prefers full sun and can be used as a filler plant in flower arrangements.
2. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Why Plant: Milkweed is essential for monarch butterflies, providing habitat and food for their larvae.
How to Plant: Sow seeds in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Milkweed is drought-tolerant once established and will return year after year.
3. English Daisy (Bellis)
Why Plant: Bellis provides charming, daisy-like flowers in early spring, with a variety of colours.
How to Plant: Sow seeds in a sunny to partially shaded area. Bellis prefers moist, well-drained soil and makes a lovely ground cover.
4. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Why Plant: Calendula, with its bright yellow and orange blooms, is easy to grow and has culinary and medicinal properties.
How to Plant: Sow seeds in well-drained soil in full sun. Calendula is frost-tolerant.
Western Red Columbine can be sown in October in BC.
5. Columbine (Aquilegia spp)
Why Plant: Columbine’s unique, bell-shaped flowers add interest to shaded areas of the garden. Western Red Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, is a BC native wildflower.
How to Plant: Sow seeds in sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. Columbine can tolerate dry conditions once established.
6. Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Why Plant: Hollyhocks are a cottage-garden favourite that provide tall spikes of flowers in a wide range of colours. Their seeds benefit from cold stratification, so fall planted seeds may germinate more successfully than seeds sown in spring!
How to Plant: Sow seeds directly in the garden, spacing them 18 inches apart. Do not cover; seeds require light to germinate. Hollyhocks prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
7. Lupin (Lupinus spp.)
Why Plant: Lupins offer striking spires of flowers that come in a variety of vibrant colours.
How to Plant: Sow seeds 1/8″ deep, in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Seeds can take up to 60 days to germinate; plant extra to make up for losses to birds and other factors. Lupins can tolerate poor soil and will return year after year..
Start sweet peas now for earlier blooms in spring.
8. Sweet Peas
Why Plant: Sweet peas are known for their beautiful blooms and intoxicating fragrance, making them a garden favourite. While associated with late-spring blooms, they can be started in fall for a head start and earlier flowers.
How to Plant: Sow seeds in small, deep pots in a cold frame, greenhouse or other sunny protected spot. Place the pots on a heat mat, if you have one, until seeds have germinated. Pinch out the growing tip once seedlings have four true leaves, and transplant into the garden in late winter.
9. Poppies (Papaver spp.)
Why Plant: Poppies are beloved for their vibrant, delicate blooms and papery petals. Their striking flowers can range from soft pastels to vivid reds and oranges and are some of the earliest bloomers.
How to Plant: Sow poppy seeds directly in the garden in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Scatter seeds over the surface and lightly press them into the soil—poppies prefer to be sown shallowly. They thrive in poor to average soil and do well with minimal watering once established.
10. Echinacea (Coneflower)
Why Plant: Echinacea, commonly known as coneflower, is a hardy perennial that produces large, daisy-like flowers with prominent, cone-shaped centres. These flowers come in shades of pink, purple, white, and yellow, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
How to Plant: Sow seeds or plant transplants in full sun with well-drained soil. Echinacea is drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal care. These tough plants can thrive in poor soil and are perfect for low-maintenance gardens.
11. Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)
Why Plant: Rudbeckia, or Black-eyed Susan, is a cheerful, easy-to-grow perennial known for its bright yellow or orange petals surrounding a dark, central cone. These flowers bloom from summer through fall and are excellent for attracting pollinators and adding long-lasting colour to your garden.
How to Plant: Sow seeds directly in the garden in full sun with well-drained soil. Rudbeckia is adaptable and thrives in a variety of soil types, including clay and sandy soils. Once established, they are drought-tolerant and require minimal care, making them a great choice for beginners.
Yarrow comes in a range of colours, from white to pink, red, and yellow
12. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Why Plant: Yarrow is a versatile, hardy perennial known for its feathery foliage and clusters of tiny, flat-topped flowers that come in a range of colours. Yarrow is a great choice for pollinator gardens, and its long-lasting blooms make it a staple in both fresh and dried flower arrangements.
How to Plant: Sow yarrow seeds directly in the garden or plant transplants in full sun with well-drained soil. Yarrow thrives in poor, dry soils and is highly drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping or low-water gardens. Yarrow is a low-maintenance plant that will naturalize and spread over time, providing beautiful blooms throughout the summer and fall.
Planting in October sets the stage for a flourishing garden. Whether you’re focused on harvesting edibles, expanding your herb collection, or filling your garden with beautiful flowers and wildflowers, this month offers plenty of opportunities to enhance your outdoor space.
October Garden Maintenance Checklist
There are a number of October garden tasks beyond sowing seeds. October is a great time to:
- Get your garden ready to weather the winter
- Protect and nourish soil with a cover crop
- Leave fallen leaves in place as an organic mulch
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs
- Plant an ornamental tree, or perhaps an apple tree
- Add colour with some late-blooming shrubs, or plan for pollinators by adding pollinator-attracting perennials
- Bring your tropical plants back indoors for the winter
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