The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
In the UK, October can still be a useful month to start winter lettuce, hardy salad leaves, broad beans and peas, or to plant garlic cloves. What will work depends on your local climate, how exposed or sheltered your plot is, drainage, available light and whether you can protect crops. Some choices provide leaves during winter; others are mainly an investment in a later harvest.
Garlic is planted, not sown: each clove can grow into a plant. The other crops below are started from seed.
Which October crops suit your garden?
| Crop | Best fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter lettuce | A hardy winter variety; protection may help in colder conditions. | Leaves for winter use, with growth slower as daylight declines. |
| Broad beans | Mild, suitable sites; avoid autumn sowing on cold, exposed or very wet plots. | An overwintering crop intended for a later harvest. |
| Overwintering peas | Mild areas; choose an overwintering variety such as ‘Douce Provence’ or ‘Meteor’. | An overwintering crop, not an immediate October harvest. |
| Garlic | Well-drained ground and garlic suited to autumn planting in UK conditions. | Cloves develop into plants for a later bulb harvest. |
| Hardy winter salad leaves | Rocket or lamb’s lettuce, especially where a cloche or cold frame is available. | Leaves may be grown through the colder season, but growth slows as light falls. |
The Royal Horticultural Society’s October Grow Your Own advice says, “In mild areas you can sow overwintering broad beans in situ.” That qualification matters: autumn sowing is not equally suitable for every plot.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
1. Winter lettuce
Choose a hardy variety intended for winter growing rather than assuming any lettuce will thrive in October conditions. The RHS includes winter lettuce among its October crops. As days shorten, expect slower growth than in summer; a cloche or other suitable protection can help extend the growing season.
2. Broad beans
Autumn-sown broad beans can overwinter and give an earlier crop than beans sown in spring, but site conditions should guide the decision. Mild, sheltered ground is a better candidate than a cold, exposed or waterlogged plot. If your site is in the colder category, waiting until spring is a sensible alternative.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
In colder areas, the RHS recommends cloches or fleece for insulation and to protect plants from pigeons. Large bean seeds can also be started in deep individual containers, a useful option if you want to raise them under cover before planting out.
3. Overwintering peas
Peas are a more conditional October choice: the RHS recommends overwintering varieties such as ‘Douce Provence’ or ‘Meteor’ only in mild areas. Choose a variety specifically suited to overwintering and follow its packet guidance. If your garden is cold or exposed, do not treat an autumn sowing as a reliable option.
Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
4. Garlic
Plant individual cloves of a variety intended for autumn planting and suited to UK growing conditions. Use well-drained ground; garlic is not a good choice for soil that stays wet. Ordinary supermarket garlic is not guaranteed to be suitable planting stock, so choose cloves sold for growing if possible.
Each clove can produce a plant that develops into a bulb. This is a crop for a later harvest, not a source of fresh garlic in October.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
5. Hardy winter salad leaves
Rocket and lamb’s lettuce are examples of hardy leaves that may still be sown or grown under protection. A cloche or cold frame can shelter them as conditions cool. Their growth will slow as light levels fall, so plan for gradual picking rather than summer-speed production.
How to choose the right option
- For leaves during the colder season: consider winter lettuce, rocket or lamb’s lettuce, and use protection where it suits your conditions.
- For a crop to overwinter: broad beans may suit mild, suitable sites; overwintering peas are recommended only for mild areas.
- For a later bulb harvest: plant autumn-suitable garlic cloves in well-drained ground.
- For a cold, exposed or very wet plot: be cautious about autumn-sown broad beans, and do not rely on the mild-area recommendation for overwintering peas.
Check timing and protection locally
October is not a universal planting deadline. Local climate and light affect the growing season, and shelter, drainage and available protection can change what is practical in an individual garden. Check local UK gardening advice and the seed packet for variety-specific sowing guidance rather than applying a calendar from another climate. For any crop, use the packet’s timing and maturity information in the context of your own area.
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
Seeds can be sown directly outdoors or started in containers; protection such as cloches, fleece, cold frames, tunnels or greenhouses can extend the season. The right method depends on the crop and your space. A protected sowing may help with winter leaves, while beans, peas and garlic remain longer-term starts rather than guaranteed fresh harvests this month.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
