Autumn is one of the very best times to get planting in the UK garden. The soil is still warm from summer, rainfall is more regular, and the cooler temperatures make it easier for young plants to establish roots. By putting the right things in the ground now, you’ll set yourself up for a vibrant spring and a productive year ahead.
Whether you grow veg, flowers, or perennials, here’s a guide to what you can plant in Autumn.
Vegetables
- Garlic – Plant cloves directly in the soil; they love a cold spell to develop strong bulbs.
- Onions and Shallots (autumn sets) – Hardy varieties overwinter well for an early summer harvest.
- Broad Beans – Choose autumn-hardy types such as ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ for early crops.
- Spinach & Winter Salad Leaves – Sow under cloches or in a greenhouse for cut-and-come-again greens.
- Spring Cabbages – Plant young plants now to harvest in spring.
Flowers and bulbs
- Spring-flowering bulbs – Daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and alliums will bring colour to spring borders.
- Tulips – Best planted in late October or November to reduce the risk of tulip fire (a fungal disease).
- Wallflowers, Pansies & Violas – Add cheerful colour through winter and early spring.
- Sweet Peas – Sow in pots under cover; they’ll grow into strong plants for next summer.
Trees, shrubs, and perennials
- Bare-root fruit trees and bushes – Available from late October onwards when dormant; a cost-effective way to add apples, pears, raspberries, or currants.
- Roses – Plant in autumn to allow roots to establish before spring growth.
- Perennials – Divide and replant crowded clumps such as hostas, rudbeckia, and daylilies.
Autumn & Winter Planting Calendar
Here’s a simple month-by-month guide to keep you on track!
🌿 September
- Sow spinach, rocket, winter lettuce, and mustard leaves.
- Plant spring cabbages.
- Get daffodils and crocuses in the ground.
- Plant out wallflowers, pansies, and violas.
🌿 October
- Plant garlic, onion sets, and shallots.
- Sow broad beans (hardy varieties).
- Plant hyacinths and alliums.
- Divide and replant perennials.
- Start planting bare-root roses.
🌿 November
- Plant tulips (later planting helps avoid fungal disease).
- Continue with garlic and onions if you didn’t get to them earlier.
- Plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes.
🌿 December – February
- Keep planting bare-root trees, bushes, and roses while they are dormant.
- Check over winter-sown broad beans and salad leaves, protecting with fleece if frosts hit.
- Prepare beds for early spring sowing by mulching and clearing debris.
Autumn planting is all about giving plants a head start so they can burst into life when spring arrives. With just a little effort now, your garden will reward you with colour, structure, and crops much earlier next year.
