This is such a fun time to work in the garden! The weather is kinda starting to cool down and there’s so many seeds to get in the ground. So, without further ado, here’s a list of seeds to sow in October. If you’ve been anxious to get growing some root veggies and leafy greens, the wait is over!
Growing Conditions In October
Some years the weather feels pretty good right about now, and other’s it’s still a sauna. The rains are still coming, thankfully, but the thunder storms are giving way to softer rainfall from the “cold” fronts we will start getting.
The UV index is at 7 for north and central Florida, and 8 for south Florida. The average temps range from the mid to low 80’s as a high and low to mid 60’s as a low. The average rain fall this month is around 2-4 inches, though that can vary significantly from the north to the south.
There’s still some pest pressure, but healthy seeds in healthy soil typically handle what pests we have without much problem. The buggies will become much less of a nuisance as the month and season progresses.
You can also sow just about all of the seeds listed below every few weeks for the majority of the cool season. So, if something does get hit by pests this time, you still have plenty of opportunity to sow another round of seeds for great harvests.
What Seeds To Sow In October
Alliums
These fragrant, pungent veggies are a must have in every garden. Plus, you can eat more than just the delicious bulbs! The leaves make great garnishes in soups, stews, chili’s, you name it. What does a green onion not go well on? Choose short day varieties for onions and soft neck varieties of garlic.
- onions
- garlic
- leeks
- chives
- spring onions
Brassica’s
If you didn’t get a round of these guys in last month, go ahead and start some now. Or, if you did start some last month, get the next round started. Seriously, this group of plants contains some of my favorite veggies and they look beautiful in the garden. Grow them in the shade of taller plants to protect them on those hotter winter days.
- Cauliflower – this variety from Baker’s Creek has produced large heads with tight curds year after year despite extreme temperature changes. Think, frost on Sunday, eighty degrees by Saturday. It’s a winner in my garden.
- Mustard – I love growing mustard for use as a green manure. It has a deep taproot that brings nutrients from the sub soil into the top soil when chopped and dropped. Plus, it’s beautiful and tasty. If you want to fertilize your garden without bringing in outside inputs, mustard is going to be a big help.
- Bok Choy – Perfect in soups and stir fry’s, this crop will grow through hot and cold weather like a champ. Also, so beautiful. I like to harvest with a cut and come again approach.
- Kale – absolutely beautiful in the garden and sooo hardy. If you don’t love it, turn it into a green powder to add to smoothies or even brownies 😉
- Brussel Sprouts – delicious roasted with some maple syrup and chopped walnuts or pecans. Make sure to grow these in the shade of other crops or somewhere it will only get morning light. It can be much more finnicky about temperature fluctuations.
- Cabbage – So easy to grow and so tasty. A cabbage grown in fertile soil with some necessary shade from hot temperatures is so sweet. This is my favorite variety to grow. It produces large heads for me every year.
- Broccoli – now, I haven’t had success with heading broccoli. However, there are other varieties of broccoli that produce delicious shoots you can use in place of traditional broccoli. My favorite varieties are Yod Fah broccoli and Rabe broccoli.
- Collards – Stock up on all of these leafy greens while the weather allows.
Cucurbits
You might not typically think of this class of veggies when you think of fall and winter gardening, however, some of these plants can be really finnicky in our spring and summer. So, if you are willing to put in a little extra work to grow these guys in the “off” season you’ll be able to enjoy some homegrown squash, cucumbers, and melons.
- Kent pumpkin – this is one I’ve heard great things about for year round growing in the subtropics. This one is definitely on my wish list of plants to grow.
- Cucumbers – short season varieties will do well for you up in north Florida while longer season crops, such as English cucumbers, will do great in Central and South Florida. Just keep tabs on the forecast and protect your plants from any frosts that may come.
- Melons – Why enjoy watermelons only in the spring? Why not enjoy them as a fall crop, too. Another melon we’ve had good success with this year is the Sweet Richness 132 Melon from Baker’s Creek.
- Summer squash – if you’re willing to give these guys another go, now is a good time to do it. By the time these plants mature, the bugs that eat their tasty fruits will be more or less dormant.
Legumes
- Kentucky Blue Beans – If you love classic green beans, rejoice, because now is the time to get these babies in the ground.
- Chinese noodles/yard long beans – Yup, these guys will grow straight through our summer and most of our winter. These guys are a great hardy green bean that just keeps on giving.
- Peas – sugar snap, snow peas, sweet peas, whatever your heart desires. Plus they are so beautiful up a trellis 😍
Apiaceae
This group of crops has a lot of my personal favorite seeds to sow in October. They are so beautiful in the garden and require no babying during cold winter days. The common denominator with these plants are the small seeds that do not germinate well if left to dry out. Keep these seeds moist, not soggy, until germination.
Better yet, sow them right before a cold front comes through. They will be kept plenty moist from the rains those bring.
- Celery
- Parsley
- Carrots
- Parsnips
Potatoes!
Keep growing these lovely tubers straight through the coldest months of the year. Determinate varieties (think smaller potatoes with thinner skins) tend to do better than indeterminate varieties. That being said, don’t be afraid to try all sorts of varieties to find your favorite and best growers.
Strawberries!!
It is officially the start of strawberry season! For your larger strawberries buy bare root strawberry plants from your local nursery. If you’d also like to experiment with heirloom, from seed strawberries, these alpine strawberries, and this one, from Baker’s Creek are divine. Keep in mind that heirloom strawberries are tiny, about the size of a raspberry.
Amaranth
This plant is beautiful and can be grown for it’s abundant grain and also for use as a natural dye. It’s super hardy in cold and hot weather, however, the buggies love it so much I’ve dedicated it to my fall/winter garden.
This plant is a great choice if you are trying to produce more of your own feed for your chickens or quails, and the whole plant is edible. The leaves have a strong flavor in my opinion, but give them a try, maybe you’ll love it 🙂
Leafy Greens
Of course, now is the time to get all your favorite leafy greens ready to go. Stick to loose leaf lettuces and other cut and come again greens, since our climate doesn’t stay cold long enough for a heading lettuce.
- Loose leaf lettuce
- Spinach
- Arugula
Herbs
- oregano
- chives
- marjoram
- thyme
- rosemary
- mint
- sage
- lavender
Flowers
- echinacea
- black eyed susans
- blue mist flowers
- cosmos
- zinnias
- marigolds
- calendula
- chamomile
- coreopsis
For more on native flowers visit https://www.flawildflowers.org/.
I hope this list of seeds to sow in October gets you pumped for the gardening season ahead. I’d love to know what seeds you all are starting right now and which varieties do the best for you 🙂
Happy gardening! 😊
You’ve got a great list! I’m in Zone 6a, so don’t have as many things we can plant right now. Will be getting the garlic in the ground soon!