Gardening experts name 5 delicious crops ready to harvest in October

We're officially in the UK's harvest season, which means there’s plenty of delicious crops you can dig up now.

There are few things more rewarding than growing your own produce. Not only does it get you spending more time outdoors, it can also save you money on store-bought goods. Plus, you have control over what kinds of pesticides are used on your food.

It also means you have something to look forward to in October, when the weather chills and the clocks go back, as many foods are ripe for the picking in autumn. Gardener's World reveals five crops you can harvest this month and some of the tasty ways you can use them.

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Apples

According to Gardener’s World, October is generally the last month in which you can harvest apples. Varieties such as Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Cosmic Crisp are great options to harvest in October.

You can either eat them straight away or preserve them, such as by canning them, creating jam, butter, applesauce or even vinegar.

Carrots

If sowed continuously, carrots can actually be harvested through May all the way up until December – which means you can pick them this month, too. Carrots are a dinner staple and are delicious roasted, boiled or grated into a salad. They can also be used to make the all-time favourite carrot cake.

Tomatoes

These versatile juicy fruits are best picked now before the weather gets too cold. They can be enjoyed in a wide variety of dishes, from pastas to curries, and are even enjoyable on their own.

Gardener’s World writes: “Pick your last tomatoes this month before the remainder are lost to frosts. Avoid storing tomatoes from tomato blight-affected plants.”

Beetroot

You can harvest the last beetroot crop of the year in October, as the vegetable makes a great addition to salads, smoothies and even sweet dishes like cakes.

Pumpkins

Of course, for anyone who likes to celebrate Halloween, October is the ultimate month to harvest pumpkins. In fact, the holiday wouldn't be the same without them.

However, even for those who won't be trick-or-treating, there are plenty of reasons to pluck these big pulpy fruits. Not only can they be used to make spooky lanterns, they’re also a delicious base for pies and soups.