Spring in the garden - October
October signals mid-spring and there is plenty to do in the garden. Spring crops and flowers will be starting to appear so it's time to plant more to ensure a continuous supply of delicious veges, juicy fruit and fragrant floral displays that will last you into the summer months!
Download our planting poster
Our handy calendar shows you when to plant in your region, including harvest dates.
It's a great time to plant:
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Alyssum
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Asparagus
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Basil
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Beans
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Beetroot
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Blackberries
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Blueberries
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Bok choi
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Broccoli
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Cabbage
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Calendula
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Capsicum
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Carrots
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Cauliflower
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Celery
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Chillies
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Chrysanthemum
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Coriander
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Cosmos
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Courgettes
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Cucumber
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Dahlia
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Daisy
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Dianthus
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Eggplant
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Feijoas
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Fuchsia
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Gerbera
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Gladiolus
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Impatiens
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Kumara
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Lavender
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Leeks
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Lemons
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Lettuce
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Lily
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Limes
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Mandarins
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Marigold
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Mesclun
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Oranges
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Pansy & viola
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Parsley
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Parsnip
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Passionfruit
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Petunia
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Poppy
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Potatoes
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Pumpkin/squash
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Radish
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Raspberries
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Rhubarb
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Rocket
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Rose
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Silverbeet
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Snapdragon
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Spinach
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Spring onions
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Strawberries
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Sweetpea
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Sweetcorn
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Tomatoes
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Watermelon
The Wairarapa Vegetable Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Asparagus, basil, beetroot, bok choi, beans, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, chilli, coriander, courgette, cucumber, eggplant, leek, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, parsnip, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, radish, rhubarb, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes.
HARVEST
Basil, beetroot, bok choi, cabbage, coriander, kale, leek, lettuce, mesclun, onions, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, rhubarb, rocket, silverbeet, spinach.
Maintenance
- Feed potatoes planted in the garden with Tui Potato Food which contains high levels of phosphorus and potassium promote healthy tuber production and plant growth. If you are growing potatoes in pots and containers feed with Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser.
- Mound up the soil around potato plants as the leaves appear through the soil.
- Garlic and shallots - keep the area around plants weed free.
- Herbs - cut back sage, thyme and mint to encourage fresh new growth for the summer harvest.
- For tomatoes planted in garden beds, feed with Tui Tomato Food to replace nutrients and promote big juicy fruit. For pots and containers feed with Tui Enrich Vege, Tomato & Herb controlled release fertiliser.
- Apply Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic once a month to give plants a boost and kick-start for the season.
- Look out for aphids and white cabbage butterfly caterpillar as they will also be actively looking for food. Squash these insects, hose off or wash with warm soapy water.
The Wairarapa Fruit Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry, feijoa, lemon, orange, mandarin, lime, passionfruit, grapes, kiwifruit, tamarillo.
HARVEST
Strawberries and other berries including blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries and blackberries.
Start picking the last of the citrus crops - lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges.
Maintenance
- Keep planting a variety of berries for summer snacking and desserts. Plant in Tui Strawberry Mix.
- Plant up pots with citrus to enjoy trees laden with juicy lemons, oranges, limes and mandarins ready to be plucked from the branch.
- Fruits require a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.
- Stake all young fruit trees to enable to roots to anchor themselves into the soil for the first few seasons.
- Add a layer of mulch around the base of fruit trees, to help retain moisture over the warmer months.
- Fertilise fruit trees with Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser.
- Spray citrus at the pre-blossom stage with copper to control verrucosis scab and brown rot.
- Apply Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic every 4 weeks or so to promote strong root growth and increase fruiting and flowering capacity.
The Wairarapa Flower Gardener's Diary
Change regionThe Wairarapa Vegetable Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Asparagus, basil, beetroot, bok choi, beans, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, chilli, coriander, courgette, cucumber, eggplant, leek, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, parsnip, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, radish, rhubarb, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes.
HARVEST
Basil, beetroot, bok choi, cabbage, coriander, kale, leek, lettuce, mesclun, onions, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, rhubarb, rocket, silverbeet, spinach.
Maintenance
- Feed potatoes planted in the garden with Tui Potato Food which contains high levels of phosphorus and potassium promote healthy tuber production and plant growth. If you are growing potatoes in pots and containers feed with Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser.
- Mound up the soil around potato plants as the leaves appear through the soil.
- Garlic and shallots - keep the area around plants weed free.
- Herbs - cut back sage, thyme and mint to encourage fresh new growth for the summer harvest.
- For tomatoes planted in garden beds, feed with Tui Tomato Food to replace nutrients and promote big juicy fruit. For pots and containers feed with Tui Enrich Vege, Tomato & Herb controlled release fertiliser.
- Apply Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic once a month to give plants a boost and kick-start for the season.
- Look out for aphids and white cabbage butterfly caterpillar as they will also be actively looking for food. Squash these insects, hose off or wash with warm soapy water.
The Wairarapa Fruit Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry, feijoa, lemon, orange, mandarin, lime, passionfruit, grapes, kiwifruit, tamarillo.
HARVEST
Strawberries and other berries including blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries and blackberries.
Start picking the last of the citrus crops - lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges.
Maintenance
- Keep planting a variety of berries for summer snacking and desserts. Plant in Tui Strawberry Mix.
- Plant up pots with citrus to enjoy trees laden with juicy lemons, oranges, limes and mandarins ready to be plucked from the branch.
- Fruits require a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.
- Stake all young fruit trees to enable to roots to anchor themselves into the soil for the first few seasons.
- Add a layer of mulch around the base of fruit trees, to help retain moisture over the warmer months.
- Fertilise fruit trees with Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser.
- Spray citrus at the pre-blossom stage with copper to control verrucosis scab and brown rot.
- Apply Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic every 4 weeks or so to promote strong root growth and increase fruiting and flowering capacity.