October is one of the busiest gardening months in Saint John. The growing season is winding down, but it’s an excellent time to prepare your garden for winter and get a head start on next spring.

🍂 What to Do in October

Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs

October is ideal for planting:

• Tulips
• Daffodils
• Crocuses
• Hyacinths

Plant them before the ground freezes so they can establish roots before winter.

Plant Garlic

Garlic is one of the best crops to plant in October in southern New Brunswick.

• Plant individual cloves 2–3 inches deep.
• Cover with mulch after the ground cools.
• Harvest next summer.

Clean Up Vegetable Gardens

• Remove dead tomato, bean, and squash plants.
• Pull weeds before they go to seed.
• Add healthy plant material to your compost pile.

Protect Perennials

After several hard frosts:

• Cut back diseased foliage.
• Leave some seed heads for birds.
• Apply mulch around sensitive plants.

Improve the Soil

Fall is an excellent time to:

• Add compost
• Spread aged manure
• Mulch garden beds

Winter weather helps work organic matter into the soil.

🐦 Support Wildlife

Consider leaving:

• Coneflower seed heads
• Sunflower heads
• Ornamental grasses

These provide food and shelter for birds throughout the winter.

🌡️ Typical October Weather in Saint John

Typical conditions include:

• Average highs: 10–14°C
• Average lows: 2–6°C
• First hard frost often occurs during October
• Increasing rainfall and occasional early snow flurries late in the month

Garden Planning for Next Year

October is also a great time to:

• Record what grew well this year.
• Sketch next year’s vegetable garden.
• Order seed catalogues.
• Divide overcrowded perennials.

For Saint John gardeners, October is less about harvesting and more about setting up a healthy, productive garden for spring 2027. 🌷🧄🍁