October seasonal events and outdoor activities

October can feel like the last days of summer and the first nights of winter.

Looking on the happy Autumn-fields, and thinking of the days that are no more.

Alfred Lord Tennyson
Morning sunrise over a meadow in October, light shining through a tree
October Sunrise over a meadow

October is the month when the trees are heroic. They stand solidly and stoically all year round, yet in October they blaze in glory. Canopies of crimson, gold, bright yellow, bronze, crimson and purple give a bright display. The trees showing their true colours that are hidden all summer by the life-giving chlorophyll. They juxtapose brightly to misty mornings and dusky evenings as the days draw rapidly in, providing the last hurrah! of colour.

The birds visiting for summer head of for hotter, dryer places and resident birds prepare and store for winter, replacing worn summer plumage with lush winter feathers. The land starts to rest, the last fruits ripen. Overwintering plants sprout in ready preparation for spring: winter cereals and brassicas on the farm, umbellifers in the hedgerow in readiness for next year. In the garden Chrysanthemums and dahlias provide a brave display before the frosts or gales take their toll. All other plants start to retire or perish.

It’s the time for preserving and pickling, checking the wood store and lighting the fire. Time to ensure the boots are waxed and the jumper is ready.

Dates, events, holidays and festivals.

October 2024

Public holidays

1st October – Victory Day 3rd October – Unity Day 14th October – Columbus Day 21st October – Dussehra 1st November – Diwali 24th October – United Nations Day 27th October – Daylight Savings Ends 31st October – Halloween

Seasonal, astronomical and nautical events

17th October – Full Moon, Harvest Moon 24th October – 3rd Quarter 2nd October – New Moon 16th October – Spring Tide 19th October – Neap Tide 23rd October – 1st Quarter 24th October – Autumnal Equinox 28th October – Full Moon, Hunter’s Moon

Festivals and events, religious, traditional and sporting

4th October – L-Imbuttatura Festival 12th October – Taste of Malta Festival 18th October – Music Festivals 21st October – Edinburgh Jazz Festival 24th October – Belfast Film Festival 25th October – Leeds Film Festival 26th October – Halloween Scotland 27th October – Clonakilty Festival 29th October – Explorer’s Week 31st October – Explorers Festival 31st October – Halloween Edinburgh

Find more events and notable dates throughout the year


October seasonal Foods

What foods are seasonal in October.

Greens and leaves: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cavolo nero, Kohlrabi, Kale, Lamb’s lettuce, Lettuce, Pak choi, Radicchio, Salsify, Swiss chard.

Roots and other veg: Aubergine, Beetroot, Celery, Celeriac, Garlic, Globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, Leek, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Pepper, Pumpkin, Quince, Radish, Runner bean, Spring onion, Swede, Sweet potato, Tomato, Turnip.

Meat: Beef, Chicken, Duck, Grouse, Goose, Guinea fowl, Lamb, Pork, Venison.

Fruit: Blackberry, Chestnut, Cranberry, Elderberries, Pear, Plum,

Seafood: Crab, Mackerel, Mussels, Oyster.

Exotics: Banana, Date, Fig, Pomegranate.

Find out more about seasonal foods throughout the year with a guide to Seasonal foods.


In nature

Autumn gales and first frosts


On the Farm in October

Continued sheep maintenance, dipping and clipping about the rear.

Calves are weaned and cattle are fed.

Potatoes and beets harvested. Last of wheat harvested if wet or late harvest.

Maize harvested for silage.

Ploughing and harrowing continue as does the setting of winter cereals.

Corn sales and transport – either to factors or stored locally.

Find out more about what is happening in the Year on the farm


Ivy flowers a late bounty for insects and bees

Things to do in October

In the October garden

What to plant and sow

Gardening hints

Ipsum text

Out and about

Also, see the Out and about Blogs

Days and nights draw even.

Autumn colour on a rural track in October

Recipe of the month.

Pumpkin Pie

I am not a fan of wasting good food, and this includes Pumpkins. However, if you insist on carving up a pumpkin, pie has to be the best way to use up flesh left over from carving Halloween pumpkins, however, you can also make it with butternut-squash flesh, or even an unmolested pumpkin.

I love it, it’s a lovely, tasty torte type treat.

Ingredients

For the pumpkin pie:

300g all-butter shop-bought shortcrust pastry (Or you can make it).

400g peeled, deseeded pumpkin or squash flesh

85g caster sugar

Finely grated zest of 2 lemons

Finely grated zest of 1 orange

3tbsp dry sherry

1tsp cinnamon

5 medium egg yolks

150ml double cream

Icing sugar, for dusting

For the syllabub:

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 2tbsp juice

100ml dry sherry

2tbsp caster sugar

285ml double cream

Equipment.

23cm quiche dish or tart tin with a removable base

Greaseproof paper and baking beans

Liquidiser or stick blender

Rolling Pin, if making pastry (no need for pre-made).

Mixing bowl

Preparation

Separate eggs

Heat the oven to 200°C/fan oven 180°C/mark 6.

Cooking

Unfold pastry (or roll out if homemade) and line dish or tin. Patch up any holes with pastry offcuts and prick the base with a fork. Line with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Chill for 30 minutes.

Roughly chop the pumpkin or squash flesh and put into a saucepan with 200ml water. Bring to the boil, cover and then simmer for about 20 minutes for pumpkin or 40 minutes for squash. The flesh should be very soft and most of the water should have evaporated. Liquidise into a purée.

Place the pastry case in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the paper and beans and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes.

Mix the sugar, lemon and orange zest, sherry and cinnamon into the warm purée. Beat the egg yolks and cream together, add a small pinch of salt and stir into the pumpkin mixture. Pour into the pastry case and bake for 30 minutes or until just set.

For the syllabub, place the lemon zest in a large mixing bowl with the lemon juice, sherry, sugar and cream. Whisk until it forms soft, floppy peaks. Chill, covered, until needed.

Serve the tart at room temperature, dusted with icing sugar and accompanied by the syllabub.

For more inspiration see the Food Blogs

October Jobs in the vegetable garden or allotment

General Jobs

Earth up leeks and Celery. Earth up Brussel sprouts and large brassicas. Mulch celeriac and parsnips.

Finish ripening and curing Squashes.

Dig in green manures.

Turn Compost heap.

Clear old vegetation and compost. Cut down old blackberries. Remove plant supports and store.

Harvest remaining apples and pears.

Lift carrots and beetroots and remaining potatoes for storage or clamp. Consider same for Swedes and Turnips.

Cloche late crops to protect from the worst weather.

Sowing and Planting

Outdoors: Sow – Broad Beans, Peas.

Indoors: Sow – Cauliflower.

Plant: Cabbages (spring), Garlic, Onion sets, Rhubarb, Fruit trees and bushes.

Harvest

Apples, Apricots, Aubergines, Beetroot, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chillies and peppers, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Endives, Fennel, Figs, French beans, Globe artichokes, Grapes, Kohl rabi, Leeks, Lettuces, Marrows, Onions, Oriental leaves, Pears, Peas, Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Raspberries, Rocket, Runner beans, Spinach, Spring onions, Strawberries, Summer squash, Swede, Sweetcorn, Sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Winter radishes, Winter squash.

Find out more about what is happening in the allotment or vegetable garden

Evening sunshine over a field of un harvested corn

Activities, things to see and do in October

With shortening days there are fewer opportunities to get out and abou to see what is happening in nature and the countryside.

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October in pictures