October is the time for jackets, pumpkins and leaves changing, and generally isn’t thought of as a planting season for garden flowers and plants. Luckily, there are still plenty of plants you can grow in October to keep on flexing your green thumb even as the weather gets cooler.
Plants You Can Grow in October
Not all plants aren’t meant to be planted and grown in the springtime. In this category of plants, you can grow in October, there are both flowers and decorative plants as well as vegetables. Some of these are plants that will bloom in the colder months, others are ones that you will plant in the fall to allow them months of root development before they bloom in the spring. Either way, they will keep your gardening itch scratched.
Flowers You Can Plant in October
This is the time when you want to plant wildflowers, spring-blooming bulbs, and more. In fact, many of them benefit from time spent under the ground at the cooler temperatures. For all of these, make sure you wait until it is now warmer than 60 degrees Fahrenheit to plant these.
1. Amaryllis
- Zones 9 to 11, zone 8 with winter protection.
- Loamy soil
- Full or partial sun, some shade needed at sun peak
- Flower 6 weeks after planting
- Blossom from December to June
- If planted in October, will plant in time for Christmas
2. Aster
- Zones 3 to 8
- Loamy soil
- Full or partial sun
3. Autumn Crocus/Saffron Crocus
- Zones 3 to 8
- Must stay between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 weeks in order to flower
- Any soil type
- Full sun or light shade
4. Baboon Flower/Blue Freesia
- Zones 9 to 10
- Moist, well-draining soil
- Full sun or light shade
- Blossoms 10 to 12 weeks after bulbs are planted
5. Carnation
- Zones 3 to 10 (variety dependent)
- Slightly alkaline (pH 6.75), fertile, well-draining soil
- 4 to 5 hours of daily sunshine
- Bloom one to two years after seeds are planted
6. Cornflower
- Zones 2 to 11
- Full sun
- Slightly alkaline soil (pH 7.2 to 7.8)
- Can grow in fertile standard, poor, or rocky soil
7. Forget-Me-Not
- Plant them now to have a full-looking garden early in the springtime
8. Goldenrod
- Zones 3 to 9
- Full sun or part shade
9. Hyacinth
- Zones 4 to 9
- Full sun or partial shade
- Fertile, well-draining soil
- Flowers bloom 3 weeks after leaves appear
10. Ice Plant
- Zones 8 to 10
- Full sun
- Can bloom in temperatures below freezing
- Can be found in Zones 4 to 9
11. Larkspur
- Zones 3 to 8
- Thrives in light soil with ample drainage but can grow in most
- Full sun or partial shade
- Blooms will appear in the spring
12. Marigold
- Zones 3 to 9
Other optional flowers to grow in October:
- Cockscomb
- Common daisy
- Dogtooth
- Fritillaria
- Giant allium
- Glory-of-the-snow
- Hawksbeard
- Hellebore
- Hollyhock
- Iris
- Leather flower
- Lupine
- Pansy
- Peony
- Petunia
- Pinks
- Poached eggplant
- Primrose
- Siberian squill
- Snowdrop
- Snapdragon
- Stock
- Summer snowflake
- Sweet pea
- Sweet william
- Wallflower
- Watsonia
- Winter aconite
Vegetables You Can Grow in October
If growing food is more your thing than flowers and decorative plants than there are plenty of vegetables to plant in October that will also keep you busy.
1. Arugula
- Zones 3 to 11, best in zones 8+
- Full sun
- 45-60 days to harvest
- Plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest
2. Asparagus
- Zones 4 to 9
- Full sun
- Sandy soil
- 2 to 3 years for full production
3. Artichoke
- Zones 7 to 11 as perennial, colder zones grow as an annual
- 110-150 days to maturity
4. Beets
- Zones 9+
- Loamy or sandy soil
- Full or part sun
- 45-65 days to harvest
- Plant every 20 days for continuous harvest
5. Bok Choy
- Zones 4 to 7, undercover
- Prefers partial shade, full sun is okay
- 30 days for baby bok choy, 120 to 180 days for standard
6. Broccoli
- Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks in advance of planting
- Zones 2-5: set out plants in March-April
- Zones 6-7: set out plants in March-April and August
- Zones 8-10: set out plants September-October
- Harvest in 2-4 months
7. Brussels Sprouts
- For best results, start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before planting
- Zone 2-6: set out plants in May-June
- Zone 7: set out plants in March
- Zones 8-10: set out plants in September (protect from frosts)
- Harvest when ready: 3-6 months
8. Cabbage
- Zones 1 to 9
- Full sun
- 80 to 180 days to harvest
9. Carrots
- Check your variety for frost tolerance.
- Start seed directly in the garden.
- Zone 2-5: put out seed April-May
- Zone 6-7: put out seed March and August
- Zone 8-10: put out seed August-October
- Harvest in 3-4 months.
10. Cauliflower
- Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks in advance of planting
- Zones 2-5: set out plants in March
- Zones 6-7: set out plants in March and August
- Zones 8-10: set out plants September-October
- Harvest in 3-5 months
11. Cucumber
- Zones 4 to 11
- Loamy soil
- Full sun
- 50 to 70 days to harvest
12. Garlic
- Zones 3 to 8
- Full sun
- Loamy soil
13. Kale
- Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before planting or set seed directly in garden
- Zones 2-5: set out seeds February-March and plant out April-May
- Zones 6-8: set out seeds in January-February and plant out March and August
- Zones 9-10: start seeds indoors and plant out August-September
- Harvest in 2 months.
14. Leek
- Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks in advance
- Zones 2-6: set out plants March and June
- Zone 7: set out plants April-May and August-September
- Zones 8-10: set out plants in September-October
- Harvest in 4 months
15. Parsnip
- Parsnips can be stubborn to germinate. For best results, plant fresh seed in warm soil over 50 degrees and have patience as they can take up to a month to germinate.
- Start seed directly in the garden
- Zones 2-5: put out seed February to April
- solarizing your soil can increase germination
- Zones 6-7: put out seed February to August
- Zones 8-10: put out seed October to January
- may not grow well in zone 10
- Harvest in 4-5 months.
16. Potato
- Good in most growing zones
- 120-135 days to harvest
- Harvest 2 to 3 weeks after foliage has died black
- Plant late-season varieties
17. Radish
- Zones 3 to 9
- 30 days to harvest