October signals the true heart of spring, and the garden is bursting with energy! With crops sprouting, flowers blooming, and the soil warming, now is the time to plant for a continuous supply of fresh vegetables, fruit, and colour that will carry you well into summer.
Tomatoes & Tall Crops
Labour Weekend is the traditional tomato-planting time in New Zealand, and this year the crop is more worthwhile than ever given supermarket prices. Space your seedlings 50–60cm apart, and remember: tall crops such as tomatoes and sweetcorn should always go at the southern end of your vege patch so they don’t shade the smaller plants.
Boosting Growth with Humate
For best results, plant with Dave’s Organic Humate. Just a handful in each hole or pot gives your plants a powerful boost. For an even stronger start, mix up a solution of Dave’s Liquid Humate (100ml per 10L of water) and dip the roots of young plants before planting. This not only helps seedlings establish quickly but also builds resilience. Once planting is finished, pour the remaining mix into a watering can and gently water it over the foliage for an extra lift.
Flowers for Beauty & Bees
Adding flowers to your vege patch isn’t just about aesthetics. Bright blooms bring joy to your garden and attract bees — essential pollinators for crops like tomatoes, beans, and cucumbers. Consider marigolds, nasturtiums, or calendula for pops of colour that also support pollination.
Fruit & Citrus
Continue planting berries this month — strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries will reward you with summer snacking straight from the garden. For containers, citrus trees are a fantastic option. Lemons, limes, mandarins, and oranges all thrive in pots and will soon be laden with fruit ready to pluck fresh.
Warm-Season Crops
In warmer regions, cucumber seeds can be sown directly into the garden from late October through early summer. In cooler areas, use cloches or frost cloth to protect tender seedlings until conditions settle.
Carrots & Lettuce
Carrots thrive in light, well-drained soil. If sowing fine seed feels fiddly, try mixing it with radish seed — the radishes sprout faster, naturally spacing out the carrots as they mature. For lettuces, sow now to get a crop before the summer heat kicks in. Cos lettuce, being more heat-tolerant, is a reliable choice in warmer climates.
October Giveaway 🎉
Our Facebook page was unfortunately deleted, and we’re working hard to rebuild our community. To celebrate the launch of our new page, October’s giveaway focuses on Dave’s Organic Humate — we’re giving away one 8kg bag (with free delivery) to one lucky winner!
How to enter:
-
Be subscribed to our newsletter
-
Like our new Facebook page
-
Leave us a review
A winner will be drawn automatically at the end of the month and announced on Facebook.
👉 Like our new Facebook page here to enter the draw!
With so much happening in the garden, October is the perfect month to get outside and give your plants a strong start for the season ahead. A little planning and care now will pay off with abundant harvests, vibrant flowers, and thriving crops right through summer.
Happy gardening!
The Dave’s Garden Products Team