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Plant guides · Month by month

October in the garden.

What to sow and plant in October, then what is in flower and what is in fruit among the plants in our guides. The picks are the app's own monthly planting guide, which matches them to your hardiness zone.

Northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere picks are further down the page.

What to plant in October

  • Siberian Squill Scilla siberica · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 1 to 8

    About the hardiest bulb you can buy, and it naturalizes into a blue sheet under trees. Plant it shallow and thickly, and then leave it completely alone.

  • Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa · shrub · plant out · zones 1 to 8

    Survives brutal winters, wet ground and neglect, and still gives you fruit and scarlet autumn leaves. Plant it now while the soil holds a little warmth.

  • Winter Wheat Triticum aestivum · grass · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

    Sown over a bare bed it holds the soil together through the wettest months. Dig it in during spring and it feeds the ground with everything it took up.

  • Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 4 to 9

    Plant them outdoors now, or pot prepared bulbs and keep them in the cold dark for ten weeks. Wear gloves, because the papery skins irritate a lot of people.

  • Horseradish Armoracia rusticana · vegetable · plant out · zones 3 to 9

    Plant a root cutting at an angle in a spot you are happy to give up permanently. It spreads from every fragment left behind, so a sunken container is a wise idea.

  • Quince Cydonia oblonga · tree · plant out · zones 5 to 9

    A small tree with blossom in spring and heavily scented fruit in autumn. Plant it now while dormant, somewhere sheltered, and it needs almost no pruning.

  • Chickpea Cicer arietinum · vegetable · sow direct · zones 8 to 13

    Sow into cooling soil for a crop that finishes before the real heat. It is drought hardy once established, and it fixes nitrogen for whatever follows it.

  • Tamarind Tamarindus indica · tree · plant out · zones 10 to 13

    A long lived shade tree that copes with drought and poor soil once it is up. Plant it where it can spread, because a mature tree covers a lot of ground.

  • Aloe Vera Aloe vera · herb · plant out · zones 9 to 13

    Plant offsets into gritty soil and then water it far less than feels right. It stores everything it needs in the leaves, and wet roots are the only thing that kills it.

  • Bearded Iris Iris germanica · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 3 to 9

    The rhizome must sit half out of the soil, baking in the sun, or it will not flower. Face the fan of leaves the way you want the plant to travel.

  • Winter Aconite Eranthis hyemalis · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 3 to 8

    Soak the dry tubers overnight before planting, because they shrivel badly in storage. They flower with the snowdrops and spread into golden pools under trees.

  • Primrose Primula vulgaris · flower · plant out · zones 3 to 9

    Plant it now in damp part shade so it is settled well before it flowers. Split the clumps every few years straight after flowering and you double them for free.

  • Redcurrant Ribes rubrum · fruit · plant out · zones 3 to 8

    Unlike blackcurrants these fruit on old wood, so grow them on a short leg and prune to a goblet. They crop well even against a cool shady wall.

  • Winterberry Ilex verticillata · shrub · plant out · zones 3 to 9

    It drops its leaves and leaves the branches loaded with red berries all winter. You need a male plant somewhere nearby or the females will not set fruit.

  • Pomegranate Punica granatum · shrub · plant out · zones 7 to 11

    Plant it in the hottest, driest corner you have, because it fruits best when it is stressed. A wet summer gives you leaves and split fruit rather than a crop.

  • Coffee plant Coffea arabica · shrub · plant out · zones 10 to 13

    It grows under a canopy in the wild, so give it shade and shelter rather than full sun. Keep it pruned to head height and the cherries stay within reach.

  • Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis · tree · plant out · zones 11 to 13

    One tree feeds a household for decades, but it needs deep soil and no frost ever. Plant it at the start of the wet season and keep it watered for the first year.

  • Mung bean Vigna radiata · vegetable · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

    Fast, tough and it fixes nitrogen, which makes it a useful gap filler between crops. Sow it into warm soil and it will be ready in around ten weeks.

  • Lungwort Pulmonaria officinalis · flower · plant out · zones 3 to 8

    Spotted leaves in dry shade and flowers that open pink then turn blue. It is one of the earliest sources of nectar for bumblebees, so plant it where they will find it.

  • Sea Buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides · shrub · plant out · zones 2 to 8

    It handles salt wind, sand and hard frost, and it fixes its own nitrogen. Plant one male for every six females if you want the orange berries.

  • White Spruce Picea glauca · tree · plant out · zones 1 to 7

    Hardy right to the treeline and useful as a windbreak where nothing else stands. Plant it now, before the ground freezes, and water it well going into winter.

  • Lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea · shrub · plant out · zones 1 to 7

    A low evergreen mat for acid soil that fruits twice in a good year. It spreads by runners, so a few plants will knit into ground cover within a few seasons.

  • Siberian Pea Shrub Caragana arborescens · shrub · plant out · zones 1 to 8

    It fixes nitrogen, tolerates drought and salt, and survives temperatures that kill almost everything else. Plant a row as a shelter belt for a cold exposed garden.

  • Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus · shrub · plant out · zones 2 to 7

    Unfussy about soil and happy in shade, with white berries that hang on long after the leaves drop. Cut it back hard whenever it outgrows its space.

In flower in October

  • African Violet Streptocarpus ionanthus

    Year round with proper care · purple, violet, white, pink

  • Anthurium Anthurium andraeanum

    Year round under ideal conditions · red, pink, white, salmon

  • Autumn Crocus Colchicum autumnale

    Early to mid autumn · pink, purple, white

  • Beach naupaka Scaevola taccada

    Year round in tropical climates · white

  • Beggarticks Bidens alba

    Year round in warm climates · white, yellow

  • Blue vanda Vanda coerulea

    Late summer to winter · blue, violet

  • Brazil nut Bertholletia excelsa

    Late spring to early summer · white, yellow

  • Bugbane Actaea simplex

    Late summer to mid autumn · white, pale pink

  • California sagebrush Artemisia californica

    Late summer to autumn · yellow

  • Cannonball tree Couroupita guianensis

    Year round in tropical climates · pink, red, yellow

  • Cape honeysuckle Tecoma capensis

    Late summer to winter · orange, red, yellow

  • Chayote Sechium edule

    Late summer to autumn · white, green

  • Chinese silver grass Miscanthus sinensis

    Late summer to mid autumn · silver, pink, white, copper

  • Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum × morifolium

    Late summer to late autumn · white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, bronze

  • Coast Banksia Banksia integrifolia

    Throughout the year, peaking in autumn and winter. · pale yellow

  • Common groundsel Senecio vulgaris

    Year round in mild climates · yellow

  • Common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia

    Mid summer to late autumn · green, yellow

  • Coyote brush Baccharis pilularis

    Late summer to late autumn · white, cream

  • Crimson Cattleya Cattleya labiata

    Late summer to autumn · lavender, pink, white

  • Fountain Grass Cenchrus alopecuroides

    Late summer to mid autumn · silver, pink, purple

  • Frostweed Verbesina virginica

    Late summer to mid autumn · white

  • ginger lily Zingiber spectabile

    Late summer to autumn · yellow, red

  • Goldenrod Solidago

    Late summer to mid autumn · yellow

  • henbit Lamium amplexicaule

    Early spring to late autumn · pink, purple

  • Ivy-leaved cyclamen Cyclamen hederifolium

    Late summer to mid autumn · pink, white

  • Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus

    Late summer to mid autumn · yellow

  • Jungle Geranium Ixora coccinea

    Year round in warm climates · red, orange, yellow

  • Kratom Mitragyna speciosa

    Late summer to autumn · yellow

  • Lion's Ear Leonotis leonurus

    Late summer to autumn · orange

  • Mexican bush sage Salvia leucantha

    Late summer to late autumn · purple, white

  • Michaelmas Daisy Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

    Late summer to mid autumn · purple, blue, pink, white

  • Miscanthus

    Late summer to mid autumn · silver, pink, white

  • Neptune grass Posidonia oceanica

    Autumn · greenish

  • New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

    Late summer to mid autumn · purple, pink, white

  • New Zealand hebe Veronica speciosa

    Mid summer to late autumn · purple, violet, pink

  • Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana

    Late summer to mid autumn · white, cream, pink

  • Papaya Carica papaya

    Year round in tropical climates · white, yellow

  • Parrot flower Impatiens psittacina

    Late summer to autumn · purple, pink, white

  • Persian speedwell Veronica persica

    Early spring to late autumn · bright blue, white

  • Purple deadnettle Lamium purpureum

    Early spring to late autumn · purple, pink

  • Queen of the Andes Puya raimondii

    Late summer to autumn · white, green

  • Rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa

    Late summer to mid autumn · yellow

  • Saffron Crocus Crocus sativus

    Mid to late autumn · purple, violet

  • Sasanqua camellia Camellia sasanqua

    Fall to early winter · white, pink, red

  • Saw Banksia Banksia serrata

    Late summer to early winter · yellow, cream

  • Sea hibiscus Talipariti tiliaceum

    Year round in tropical climates · yellow, red

  • Silk floss tree Ceiba speciosa

    Late summer to early winter · pink, white, purple

  • Smooth Blue Aster Symphyotrichum laeve

    Late summer to mid autumn · lavender, blue, violet

  • Spur flower Plectranthus

    Late summer to autumn · purple, blue, white

  • Swedish ivy Plectranthus australis

    Late summer to autumn · blue, white

  • Swedish Ivy Plectranthus verticillatus

    Late summer to autumn · white, pale purple

  • Sweet olive Osmanthus fragrans

    Late summer to autumn · white, yellow, orange

  • Tiger Jaws Faucaria tigrina

    Late summer to autumn · yellow

  • Trumpet tree Cecropia peltata

    Year round · green, white

  • Turk's cap Malvaviscus arboreus

    Year round in warm climates · red

  • Turkey berry Solanum torvum

    Year round in tropical climates · white

  • Vetiver Chrysopogon zizanioides

    Late summer to autumn · purple, brown

  • White Snakeroot Ageratina altissima

    Late summer to mid autumn · white

  • Winged Bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus

    Late summer to autumn · blue, white, purple

  • Acai palm Euterpe oleracea

    Year round in tropical climates · white, cream

  • African Marigold Tagetes erecta

    Early summer to first frost · yellow, orange, gold

  • African oil palm Elaeis guineensis

    Year round in tropical climates · yellow, cream

  • African violet Saintpaulia ionantha

    Spring to autumn · purple, violet, blue

  • Annual bluegrass Poa annua

    Early spring to late autumn · green, white

  • Autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis

    Mid summer to late autumn · yellow

  • Autumn sage Salvia greggii

    Late spring to first frost · red, pink, white, purple, coral

  • Baby sage Salvia microphylla

    Late spring through fall · red, pink, magenta

  • Banana Musa × paradisiaca

    Year round in tropical climates · purple, yellow

  • Bat-faced cuphea Cuphea llavea

    Late spring to first frost · red, purple

  • Big bluestem Andropogon gerardi

    Late summer to early autumn · purple, red, tan

  • Black bat flower Tacca chantrieri

    Mid summer to early autumn · purple, black

  • Black nightshade Solanum nigrum

    Mid summer to early autumn · white

  • Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta

    Early summer to mid autumn · yellow, brown

  • Blanket flower Gaillardia grandiflora

    Early summer to mid autumn · red, orange, yellow

  • Blue Mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum

    Late summer to mid autumn · blue, violet, lavender

  • Boojum tree Fouquieria columnaris

    Late summer to early autumn · yellow, cream

  • Bougainvillea

    Spring to autumn · pink, purple, red, white, orange, yellow

  • Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis

    Year round in tropical climates · yellow, green

  • Bristly lady's thumb Persicaria longiseta

    Mid summer to late autumn · pink, magenta

  • Busy Lizzie Impatiens

    Late spring to first frost · pink, red, white, purple, orange

  • Cacao Theobroma cacao

    Year round in optimal conditions · white, pink

  • Canadian horseweed Erigeron canadensis

    Mid summer to mid autumn · white, yellow

  • Canna lily Canna × generalis

    Mid summer to late autumn · red, orange, yellow, pink, white

  • Canna Lily Canna indica

    Mid summer to late autumn · red, orange, yellow

  • Cannabis Cannabis sativa

    Late summer to early autumn · white, green, yellow

  • Cape Gooseberry Physalis peruviana

    Mid summer to early autumn · yellow

  • Carob Ceratonia siliqua

    Late summer to early autumn · red, yellow

  • Cassava Manihot esculenta

    Late summer to autumn · white, yellow

  • Chenille plant Acalypha hispida

    Spring to autumn · red

  • China aster Callistephus chinensis

    Mid summer to late autumn · white, pink, red, purple, blue, yellow

  • Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia

    Late summer to early autumn · green, yellow

  • Chinese hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

    Spring to autumn · red, pink, orange, yellow, white

  • Chocolate cosmos Cosmos atrosanguineus

    Mid summer to late autumn · deep maroon, chocolate brown

  • Coconut Palm Cocos nucifera

    Year round in tropical climates · yellow, cream

  • Coleus Plectranthus scutellarioides

    Late summer to early autumn · blue, white

  • Common Chickweed Stellaria media

    Early spring to late autumn · white

  • Common morning glory Ipomoea purpurea

    Early summer to first frost · purple, blue, pink, white

  • Common reed Phragmites australis

    Late summer to early autumn · purple, brown, tan

  • Common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale

    Late summer to mid autumn · yellow, gold

  • Cone plant Conophytum bilobum

    Late summer to autumn · yellow

  • Coral vine Antigonon leptopus

    Late spring to first frost · pink, white

  • Crown of Thorns Euphorbia milii

    Year round in warm climates · red, pink, yellow, white

  • Cup and Saucer Vine Cobaea scandens

    Mid summer to late autumn · purple, greenish-white

  • Cupuacu Theobroma grandiflorum

    Mainly in the dry season (about July to December in the native range) · dark red, maroon

  • Dahlia Dahlia pinnata

    Mid summer to first frost · red, pink, yellow, white, purple, orange

  • Dakota mock vervain Glandularia bipinnatifida

    Spring to fall · purple, lavender, pink

  • Dandelion Taraxacum officinale

    Early spring to late autumn · yellow

  • Devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis

    Mid summer to mid autumn · blue, violet

  • Dwarf banana Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'

    Year round in tropical climates · purple, yellow

  • Eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia

    Late summer to early autumn · white, cream

  • English Ivy Hedera helix

    Late summer to mid autumn · yellowish green

  • False daisy Eclipta prostrata

    Mid summer to late autumn · white

  • False heather Cuphea hyssopifolia

    Spring to fall · purple, pink, white

  • Firecracker flower Crossandra infundibuliformis

    Spring to fall · orange, apricot, coral

  • Firecracker plant Russelia equisetiformis

    Spring to fall · red, coral

  • Fish poison tree Barringtonia asiatica

    Year round with peaks in spring and summer · white, pink

  • Flamingo Flower Anthurium

    Year round under ideal conditions · red, pink, white, green

  • Flowering Maple Abutilon × hybridum

    Spring to late autumn · red, orange, yellow, pink, white

  • Four o'clock flower Mirabilis jalapa

    Mid summer to late autumn · pink, yellow, white, red, variegated

  • Fragrant plantain lily Hosta plantaginea

    Late summer to early autumn · white

  • Fukien Tea Carmona retusa

    Intermittent throughout the year · white

  • Garden cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus

    Mid summer to first frost · pink, white, red, magenta

  • Garden Petunia Petunia hybrida

    Late spring to first frost · purple, pink, white, red, yellow, blue

  • Giant knotweed Reynoutria sachalinensis

    Late summer to early autumn · white, creamy white

  • Giant reed Arundo donax

    Late summer to autumn · silver, purple

  • Ginger Zingiber officinale

    Late summer to early autumn · yellow, green, purple

  • Ginger lily Hedychium

    Late summer to autumn · white, yellow, orange, red

  • green foxtail Setaria viridis

    Mid summer to early autumn · green, purple

  • Hardy Fuchsia Fuchsia magellanica

    Mid summer to late autumn · red, purple

  • Heather Calluna vulgaris

    Late summer to mid autumn · pink, purple, white

  • Ice Plant Hylotelephium spectabile

    Late summer to mid autumn · pink, rose, white

  • Indian blanket Gaillardia pulchella

    Late spring to first frost · red, yellow, orange

  • Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans

    Late summer to mid autumn · yellow, bronze

  • Japanese knotweed Reynoutria japonica

    Late summer to early autumn · white, cream

  • Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum

    Late summer to early autumn · green, yellow

  • Jumpseed Persicaria virginiana

    Late summer to early autumn · white, red

  • Knotweed Persicaria

    Mid summer to mid autumn · pink, white, red

  • Kudzu Pueraria montana

    Late summer to early autumn · purple, violet

  • Lantana Lantana camara

    Late spring to first frost · yellow, orange, red, pink, white

  • Late flowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum

    Late summer to mid autumn · white

  • Lemon Citrus limon

    Intermittent throughout the year · white, purple

  • Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium

    Late summer to fall · silver, purple

  • Living stones Lithops lesliei

    Late summer to mid autumn · yellow

  • Marigold Tagetes

    Late spring to first frost · yellow, orange, red, mahogany, bicolor

  • Mexican fleabane Erigeron karvinskianus

    Late spring to late autumn · white, pink

  • Monkey face orchid Dracula simia

    Year round · brown, orange, yellow

  • Morning Glory Ipomoea

    Early summer to first frost · blue, purple, pink, white, red

  • Narrowleaf zinnia Zinnia angustifolia

    Early summer to first frost · orange, yellow, white

  • Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus

    Early summer to first frost · orange, red, yellow

  • Nipa palm Nypa fruticans

    Year round in tropical climates · yellow, brown

  • Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata

    Mid summer to late autumn · white, cream, pink, lime

  • Papyrus Cyperus papyrus

    Late summer to early autumn · brown, green

  • perennial sowthistle Sonchus arvensis

    Mid summer to early autumn · yellow

  • Perilla Perilla frutescens

    Late summer to early autumn · white, pink

  • Pigeon Pea Cajanus cajan

    Late summer to autumn · yellow, red

  • Polka Dot Plant Hypoestes phyllostachya

    Late summer to early autumn · lavender, pink, white

  • Portia tree Thespesia populnea

    Year round in tropical climates · yellow, maroon

  • Purple bell vine Rhodochiton atrosanguineus

    Mid summer to late autumn · purple, black

  • Purple cyclamen Cyclamen purpurascens

    Mid summer to mid autumn · pink, magenta

  • Purple pampas grass Cortaderia jubata

    Late summer to autumn · pink, white

  • Purpletop vervain Verbena bonariensis

    Mid summer to late autumn · lavender, purple

  • Rainbow eucalyptus Eucalyptus deglupta

    Late summer to autumn · white, cream

  • Red mangrove Rhizophora mangle

    Throughout the year · pale yellow, white

  • Red spider lily Lycoris radiata

    Late summer to early autumn · red

  • Redshank Persicaria maculosa

    Mid summer to mid autumn · pink, white

  • Rosary pea Abrus precatorius

    Late summer to early autumn · pink, white, lavender

  • Roselle Hibiscus sabdariffa

    Late summer to autumn · yellow, white, pink

  • Sandalwood Santalum album

    Throughout the year · yellow, red, purple

  • Sandbur Cenchrus echinatus

    Summer to autumn · green, straw

  • Scarlet sage Salvia splendens

    Late spring to first frost · red, pink, purple, white

  • Sea purslane Sesuvium portulacastrum

    Spring to fall · pink, purple

  • Sedum

    Late summer to mid autumn · pink, red, white, yellow

  • Shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris

    Early spring to late autumn · white

  • Shiny bush Peperomia pellucida

    Year round in tropical conditions · white, green

  • Silver cockscomb Celosia argentea

    Mid summer to late autumn · red, pink, yellow, orange, purple

  • Sodom Apple Calotropis procera

    Year round in warm climates · white, purple

  • Soursop Annona muricata

    Throughout the year · yellow, green

  • Spanish dagger Yucca gloriosa

    Late summer to early autumn · creamy white, greenish white

  • Spanish Shawl Heterocentron elegans

    Spring to fall · pink, magenta

  • Starfruit Averrhoa carambola

    Intermittent throughout the year · pink, lavender

  • Straggler daisy Calyptocarpus vialis

    Spring to fall · yellow

  • String of pearls Curio rowleyanus

    Late summer to early autumn · white

  • Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima

    Late spring to frost · white, purple, pink

  • Tamanu Calophyllum inophyllum

    Intermittent throughout the year · white

  • Tea Camellia sinensis

    Mid to late autumn · white, yellow

  • Teak Tectona grandis

    Late summer to early autumn · white

  • Texas Sage Leucophyllum frutescens

    Summer to autumn · pink, purple

  • Trailing Lantana Lantana montevidensis

    Spring to first frost · lavender, purple

  • Turtlehead Chelone glabra

    Late summer to mid autumn · white, pale pink

  • Variegated Lilyturf Liriope muscari

    Late summer to early autumn · purple, lavender

  • Vinca Catharanthus roseus

    Late spring to first frost · pink, white, lavender, red

  • Wax Begonia Begonia cucullata

    Spring to autumn · pink, white, red

  • Wax vine Hoya linearis

    Late summer to early autumn · white, cream

  • Wingstem Verbesina alternifolia

    Late summer to early autumn · white, yellow

  • Yellow Bells Tecoma stans

    Spring to fall · yellow

In fruit in October

Your garden, your zone, this month.

Pocket Botanist knows your hardiness zone and hemisphere, so its monthly picks are the ones that will take where you are. It also names any plant from a photo and reminds you when each one needs water. Identification is free.

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October south of the equator

The same month, six months on in the seasons: what to plant in October in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the southern half of South America.

  • Courgette Cucurbita pepo · vegetable · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

    Sow the flat seeds on their edge so water runs off rather than sitting on them. Two plants is plenty for most households, and three is usually a mistake.

  • Sunflower Helianthus annuus · flower · sow direct · zones 3 to 11

    Sow straight into warm ground where the plants will stand, because sunflowers hate root disturbance. Protect the seedlings from slugs for the first fortnight and they are away.

  • Spinach Spinacia oleracea · vegetable · sow direct · zones 2 to 9

    Spinach runs to seed the moment it gets hot and dry, so sow early and keep it watered. A little afternoon shade buys you several extra weeks of picking.

  • Zinnia Zinnia elegans · flower · start indoors · zones 1 to 10

    Zinnias want warmth and hate cold wet compost, so start them somewhere heated. Cut the first flower early and low, and the plant will branch and give you dozens more.

  • Cup and Saucer Vine Cobaea scandens · climber · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

    Sow the flat seeds on edge and expect them to be slow. Once away it climbs five meters in a season and turns creamy bells to deep purple as they age.

  • Blackcurrant Ribes nigrum · shrub · plant out · zones 3 to 8

    Plant it deep, with the base of the stems a good five centimeters under the soil, to encourage new shoots from the bottom. The fruit only comes on young wood.

  • Taro Colocasia esculenta · vegetable · plant bulbs · zones 9 to 13

    Taro wants the wettest corner you have, and it will grow happily in standing water. Plant the corms as the rains start and leave them for six months or more.

  • Dwarf banana Musa acuminata · fruit · plant out · zones 9 to 13

    Plant a sucker with a good chunk of corm attached, somewhere sheltered from wind. Bananas are thirsty and hungry, so feed and water them hard through the growing season.

  • Red Amaranth Amaranthus tricolor · vegetable · sow direct · zones 8 to 13

    One of the few leafy greens that thrives in real heat. Scatter the tiny seed on the surface, tamp it down and start picking the young leaves in about a month.

  • Dill Anethum graveolens · herb · sow direct · zones 3 to 10

    Dill has a long taproot and resents being moved, so sow it where it will stand. Keep it well away from fennel, because the two cross and the seedlings come out muddled.

  • Pear Pyrus communis · tree · plant out · zones 4 to 9

    Pears flower earlier than apples, so give them the most sheltered spot you have. Container grown trees can go in now as long as you keep them watered through the first summer.

  • Peony Paeonia lactiflora · flower · plant out · zones 3 to 8

    Plant the eyes no more than three centimeters deep, because a peony planted too low simply will not flower. Once settled it resents being moved, so choose the spot carefully.

  • Eastern gladiolus Gladiolus communis · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 6 to 11

    Plant the corms deep, around 12 centimeters, so the tall stems have something to hold onto. Put a batch in every two weeks and you stretch the flowering right through summer.

  • Spearmint Mentha spicata · herb · plant out · zones 3 to 11

    Always plant mint in a pot, even if that pot is sunk into a bed. Left loose it will run through a border in one season and be very hard to get back out.

  • Guava Psidium guajava · tree · plant out · zones 9 to 13

    Guava fruits fast, often within two years, and copes with poorer soil than most tropical fruit. Prune it low and open so you can reach the crop without a ladder.

  • Drumstick tree Moringa oleifera · tree · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

    Sow the winged seed straight where it will grow, because moringa hates having its taproot moved. Cut it back hard each year to keep the leaves within picking reach.

  • Large-leaved lupine Lupinus polyphyllus · flower · start indoors · zones 1 to 8

    Nick the hard seed coat with a knife or soak the seed overnight, or germination is patchy. Sown now they make solid plants that flower properly in their second year.

  • Blue Fescue Festuca glauca · grass · plant out · zones 4 to 9

    A neat silver blue hummock that holds its color all year in free draining soil. Comb the old growth out with your fingers each spring rather than cutting it back.

  • Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia · shrub · plant out · zones 1 to 7

    White blossom, edible summer berries and good autumn color, all on a shrub that shrugs off hard winters. It copes with most soils as long as they are not waterlogged.

  • Pak Choi Brassica rapa · vegetable · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

    Pak choi is quick, going from seed to plate in about six weeks. Sow it into cool damp soil and pick the whole head young, before the plant decides to bolt.

  • Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus · grass · plant out · zones 9 to 13

    Split a clump and plant the divisions as the rains begin. Give it full sun and room, because one plant becomes a knee high fountain within a season.

  • Potato Solanum tuberosum · vegetable · plant bulbs · zones 3 to 9

    Stand the seed tubers in a tray somewhere cool and bright for a few weeks first and let them sprout. Plant them a spade deep and earth up the stems as they grow.

Other months

The planting picks are written by the Pocket Botanist editors. The flowering and fruiting months come from AI-generated care guides checked against GBIF taxonomy, and are general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.