What to plant in October in Italy
7 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in October in Italy, for the climate around Umbria and Marche border, central Italy (Perugia–Terni area).
Climate: Cold winters with frosts down to about -3 °C from November to February, hot dry summers peaking near 38 °C, and a wet autumn and winter with the heaviest rain from October to February, while June to August are nearly rainless.
Vegetables
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Mild spring and autumn suit it, and summer shade avoids bolting.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
Cool wet seasons give sweet, tender leaves and it tolerates light frost.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Garlic Allium sativum
Needs the cold winter to form bulbs, which this climate provides.
Harvest: 7–8 monthsEasyCare guide →
Pea Pisum sativum
Cool spring and autumn weather suits it and it can be sown twice a year.
Harvest: 60–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Broad bean Vicia faba
Hardy against winter frost and fixes nitrogen in the bed.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasy
Herbs
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus
Drought-tolerant Mediterranean shrub that copes with dry summers and mild winters.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Hardy and drought-tolerant, it suits the hot dry summers.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →