Kalendarium Hortense - October

The Kalendarium Hortense was published by John Evelyn in 1683. It contains instructions for what a gardener should do throughout the year. The excerpt below is the list of what is to be done in the "Orchard and Olitory¹ Garden" for the month of October.

Trench Grounds for Orcharding, and the Kitchen garden, to lie for Winter mellowing.

Plant dry Trees (i.) Fruit of all sorts, Standard, Mural², or Shrubs which lose their leaf; and that so soon as it falls: But be sure you chuse no Trees for the Wall of above two years Graffing at the most sound and smooth.

Now is the time for Ablaqueation³, and laying bare the Roots of old unthriving, or over-hasty blooming Trees.

Moon now decreasing, gather Winter fruit that remains weather dry; take heed of bruising; lay them up clean lest they taint; Cut and prune Roses yearly, reducing them to a Standard not over tall.

Plant and Plash Quick sets.

Remove Graffs after the second year, unless Dwarffs, which you may let stand till the third.

Save, and sow all stony and hard Kernels and Seeds; such as black Cherry, Morellos, black Heart, all good; Pear-plum, Peaches, Almond stones. &c. Also Nuts, Haws, Ashen, Sucomore, and Maple keys; Acorns, Beech mast, Apple, Pear, and Crab kernels for Stocks; or you may defer it till the next Month towards the latter end, keeping them dry, and free from mustiness; remembring to cover the Beds with Litter.

You may yet sow Genoa Lettuce, which will last all the Winter, Raddish, &c.

Make Winter Cider and Perry.

Towards the latter end, plant Abricots, Cherries, Plums, Vines, Winter pears, &c.

¹ - olitory: Of or pertaining to, or produced in, a kitchen garden.

² - mural fruit: fruit borne by trees trained against a wall.

³ - ablaqueation: The act or process of laying bare the roots of trees to expose them to the air and water.