Fruit and vegetables every gardener should plant now to see crops 'within weeks'

While many of us enjoy a spot of gardening, the season for spending time outdoors is sadly starting to come to an end; however, before many of us start to cosy up indoors and shut down our greenhouses for the winter, there are a few October gardening jobs you may want to get done.

If you like growing fruit and vegetables now is actually a great time to plant some key seeds to witness a plentiful crop, with some having the potential to grow "within weeks." While it will soon be too cold to work in the garden, there are a few essential tasks you need to complete before the frost descends, as they will help you to grow more gorgeous food produce before the end of the year.

Expert at Mr Fothergill's, David Fryer, has offered some essential advice. With over 30,000 followers on Instagram, the brand has been inspiring gardeners since way back in 1978 - and David has shared all sorts of tips, including the importance of completing a crucial greenhouse job before the autumn months are out.

He said: "Beyond harvesting, autumn is still an excellent time for late-season sowings. In September and early October, the soil still retains some warmth and, with it being a little wetter, conditions are ideal for the quick germination of several crops.

"As a first approach, it is best to focus on quick-growing leafy veg, which will be ready before the frost, or crops that are frost-hardy and will grow through the winter. Autumn-sown leafy greens, such as Oriental vegetables, pak choi (green revolution), choi sum and Japanese mustard (mizuna), will be ready to harvest within six to eight weeks."

He added: "Rocket and watercress are peppery-flavoured leafy vegetables that thrive in the cooler autumn conditions, are rich in vitamins and add great flavour to salads. Ideal choices are cold-hardy spinach varieties (giant winter) or perpetual beet leaf spinach, which is a milder alternative.

"Some varieties of lettuce are cold-tolerant, such as the cos type (winter density), and will provide fresh leaves throughout winter. It is recommended to sow outdoors from August onwards.

"These varieties grow stronger with some protection, such as under a cloche or with a fleece covering, especially when they are small."

Not to mention, he offered some advice on a few winter-hardy veg too. He said they are best sown or planted in autumn so that they can establish before the coldest weather, and resume growth in spring, to give you the earliest harvests next year.

Broad beans are an ideal crop, and you can sow varieties like Aquadulce or Sutton from late September to November for early summer harvests. Give them space when sowing, as they need to be at least 20cm apart.

Overwintering onion sets, such as the long-necked, red-skinned electric and mild, white-skinned snowball, are also preferred for this season. Plant them in September or October and, when preparing your soil, ensure it's weed-free. If necessary, mulch with straw to keep weeds down.

David continued: "Also, garlic, such as Provence Wight, when planted from September to November, will produce fat and juicy cloves. Growing through the winter cold allows for proper vernalisation of the largest bulbs, ready for next summer.

"Peas that you can sow outdoors early, such as Meteor, are a fantastic choice if you want a hardy one to overwinter, giving you the earliest possible crops with excellent yield and flavour."

Generally, autumn is a key time of change in the garden, as the days are drawing in and the temperatures are coming down. This means it's often a good time to start clearing up and preparing for next season.

But, according to David, it's essential to remember that this season is not over yet, and it can still offer more. If you follow his guidance, you'll be able to do a little more work while bettering your chances for next year at the same time.

Completing a few simple jobs could really aid your harvest next year. There's even time to grow some more vegetables ready for the winter months too.