October Greenhouse Tasks: Tidying, Overwintering & Sowing Broad Beans

After a few days away, I returned to a greenhouse needing attention. Established crops are finishing, making October the perfect month for a thorough cleanup and winter prep.

Essential Autumn Cleanup

• Scrub algae off aluminum frames to prevent fungal spores from overwintering.
• Remove all dead and moldy plant material immediately.
• Ventilate daily—fresh airflow prevents fungal diseases and keeps air clean.

Creating Space for Winter Growing

I need room for tender plants, cuttings, and the oriental vegetables sown last month. Clearing clutter (pots, trays, stored "useful" items) reclaims growing space. Washing used pots now gives a head start for spring sowing. Checking labels and marker pens is another smart October task before cold weather sets in.

Sowing Autumn Broad Beans

I can't resist sowing something, so broad beans go in now. I grow them more for their delicious winter leaves than the spring pods. Autumn-sown beans (like 'Aquadulce Claudia') are hardy, crop slightly earlier, and often avoid blackfly infestations since they flower in May/June before pests peak.

My method: Start in pots (not modules), overwinter in the unheated greenhouse, potting up gradually. In severe cold, I stand pots on salvaged polystyrene sheets and cover with fleece. If planting out later, prepare the bed with well-rotted manure under black polythene from January, then transplant in March/April.

Whether kept in the greenhouse for early greens or moved outside, these beans will romp away come spring.