As humidity drops and the weather becomes cooler in Florida in October, we can consider October as a good month to refresh our garden with new vegetables, flowers, herbs, and a lot of leafy greens.
In this gardening guide, I will share my experience with you so that you can learn what your best choice to plant in October in Florida is. I am covering North Florida, Central Florida, and South Florida, which are all in this same article. I have also created separate tables so that you can look for the plants according to where you are living.
If you have missed planting in October, it's better to check my November planting guide for Florida
You can find a lot of common plant names all over Florida to be planted in October here on my list. Because practically you can plant those anywhere in Florida this month.
If you want the full-year planting schedule check: Florida Planting Calendar
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You can download the full October Planting Calendar of Florida from here:
North Florida Planting Calendar for October
As October rolls in, North Florida’s garden comes to life with the promise of fresh greens, root vegetables, and vibrant flowers. You can also notice fewer pests in October. The zones falling in this area are 8b to 9a.
Leafy Green
Here is the table of leafy green that you can grow in North Florida in October.
| Plant Name | Harvesting Time | Maintenance Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Romaine Lettuce | 55-70 days | Easy |
| Butterhead Lettuce | 45-55 days | Easy |
| Spinach | 40-50 days | Medium |
| Kale | 50-65 days | Easy |
| Arugula | 30-45 days | Easy |
| Mustard Greens | 30-40 days | Medium |
| Collard Greens | 60-85 days | Easy |
| Swiss Chard | 50-60 days | Medium |
| Endive | 45-55 days | Medium |
| Bok Choy (Pak Choi) | 30-45 days | Easy |
| Tatsoi | 40-50 days | Easy |
| Mizuna | 30-40 days | Easy |
Vegetables and roots that we can grow in north Florida - October
I have created this list based on my 12 years of experience.
| Plant Name | Harvesting Time | Maintenance Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | 70-80 days | Medium |
| Beets | 50-70 days | Medium |
| Radishes | 25-30 days | Easy |
| Turnips | 40-60 days | Easy |
| Onions (Bulb) | 100-120 days | Medium |
| Garlic | 120-150 days | Easy |
| Broccoli | 60-100 days | Medium |
| Cabbage | 80-90 days | Medium |
| Cauliflower | 70-85 days | Hard |
| Brussels Sprouts | 90-120 days | Hard |
| Peas (Snow & Snap) | 55-65 days | Easy |
| Fennel | 80-100 days | Medium |
| Leeks | 120-150 days | Medium |
| Kohlrabi | 55-65 days | Easy |
| Swiss Chard | 50-60 days | Medium |
| Celery | 85-120 days | Hard |
Flowers to be planted in October in North Florida
| Flower Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pansies | Annual | Bright and cheerful, thrive in cooler weather. |
| Violas | Annual | Hardy flowers similar to pansies, available in various colors. |
| Snapdragons | Annual | Known for their unique shape, add vertical interest to gardens. |
| Petunias | Annual | Vibrant flowers in many colors, great for hanging baskets or borders. |
| Dusty Miller | Annual | Silvery foliage that complements colorful flowers well. |
| Calendula (Pot Marigold) | Annual | Bright orange and yellow flowers that are also edible. |
| Alyssum | Annual | Low-growing with sweet-smelling flowers, great for borders. |
| Chrysanthemums (Mums) | Perennial | Available in various colors, perfect for fall blooms. |
| Salvia | Perennial | Attracts pollinators and offers long-lasting blooms. |
| Coreopsis (Tickseed) | Perennial | A native flower that produces cheerful yellow blooms. |
| Zinnias | Annual | Easy to grow with vibrant colors, great for cutting gardens. |
| Lantana | Perennial | Attracts butterflies and provides colorful clusters of flowers. |
Central Florida Planting Calendar for October
The northern portion of central Florida is 9b and most of central Florida is falling under the 10a zone. You can say Central Florida is warmer than North Florida. Considering all the necessary factors I have created this planting calendar of Central Florida for October.
Leafy Green
Here is the list of leafy greens that you can plant in October in Central Florida.
| Plant Name | Harvesting Time | Maintenance Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Spinach | 40-50 days | Medium |
| Kale | 50-65 days | Easy |
| Romaine Lettuce | 55-70 days | Easy |
| Butterhead Lettuce | 45-55 days | Easy |
| Collard Greens | 60-85 days | Easy |
| Swiss Chard | 50-60 days | Medium |
| Mustard Greens | 30-40 days | Medium |
| Arugula | 30-45 days | Easy |
| Endive | 45-55 days | Medium |
| Bok Choy (Pak Choi) | 30-45 days | Easy |
Vegetables and roots that we can grow in Central Florida in October
| Plant Name | Harvesting Time | Maintenance Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | 70-80 days | Medium |
| Beets | 50-70 days | Medium |
| Radishes | 25-30 days | Easy |
| Turnips | 40-60 days | Easy |
| Onions (Bulb) | 100-120 days | Medium |
| Garlic | 120-150 days | Easy |
| Broccoli | 60-100 days | Medium |
| Cabbage | 80-90 days | Medium |
| Cauliflower | 70-85 days | Hard |
| Collard Greens | 60-85 days | Easy |
| Swiss Chard | 50-60 days | Medium |
| Kohlrabi | 55-65 days | Easy |
| Parsnips | 100-120 days | Medium |
| Fennel | 80-100 days | Medium |
| Squash (Winter) | 80-100 days | Medium |
| Sweet Potatoes | 90-120 days | Easy |
| Bell Peppers | 70-90 days | Medium |
Flowers to be planted in Central Florida in October
You can consider these flowers to plant in October in Central Florida.
| Flower Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pansies | Annual | Bright and cheerful flowers that thrive in cooler weather. |
| Violas | Annual | Hardy flowers similar to pansies, available in many colors. |
| Snapdragons | Annual | Unique shape, adding vertical interest to gardens. |
| Petunias | Annual | Vibrant flowers in various colors, ideal for hanging baskets. |
| Dusty Miller | Annual | Silvery foliage that complements colorful blooms. |
| Calendula (Pot Marigold) | Annual | Bright orange and yellow flowers that are also edible. |
| Alyssum | Annual | Low-growing with sweet-smelling flowers, perfect for borders. |
| Chrysanthemums (Mums) | Perennial | Available in various colors, great for fall blooms. |
| Salvia | Perennial | Attracts pollinators and provides long-lasting blooms. |
| Coreopsis (Tickseed) | Perennial | A native flower that produces cheerful yellow blooms. |
| Zinnias | Annual | Easy to grow with vibrant colors, great for cutting gardens. |
| Lantana | Perennial | Attracts butterflies with colorful clusters of flowers. |
| Marigolds | Annual | Bright orange and yellow flowers, great for pest deterrence. |
| Cosmos | Annual | Easy to grow with tall stems and colorful blooms. |
South Florida Planting Calendar for October
I consider South Florida, heaven for the gardeners. It is a warmer place and all the areas of South Florida are either subtropical or tropical. Suitable for most of the plants in the United States.
If you check this full-year planting calendar for South Florida, you can find all the plants listed that you can grow in South Florida.
Leafy Greens that we can grow in South Florida in October
| Plant Name | Harvesting Time | Maintenance Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Spinach | 40-50 days | Medium |
| Kale | 50-65 days | Easy |
| Romaine Lettuce | 55-70 days | Easy |
| Butterhead Lettuce | 45-55 days | Easy |
| Collard Greens | 60-85 days | Easy |
| Swiss Chard | 50-60 days | Medium |
| Mustard Greens | 30-40 days | Medium |
| Arugula | 30-45 days | Easy |
| Endive | 45-55 days | Medium |
| Bok Choy (Pak Choi) | 30-45 days | Easy |
Vegetables and roots
| Plant Name | Harvesting Time | Maintenance Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | 70-80 days | Medium |
| Beets | 50-70 days | Medium |
| Radishes | 25-30 days | Easy |
| Turnips | 40-60 days | Easy |
| Onions (Bulb) | 100-120 days | Medium |
| Garlic | 120-150 days | Easy |
| Broccoli | 60-100 days | Medium |
| Cabbage | 80-90 days | Medium |
| Cauliflower | 70-85 days | Hard |
| Collard Greens | 60-85 days | Easy |
| Sweet Potatoes | 90-120 days | Easy |
| Bell Peppers | 70-90 days | Medium |
| Squash (Winter) | 80-100 days | Medium |
Flowers
| Flower Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pansies | Annual | Bright, cheerful flowers that thrive in cooler weather. |
| Violas | Annual | Hardy flowers available in many colors, great for beds. |
| Snapdragons | Annual | Unique shape, adding vertical interest and color to gardens. |
| Petunias | Annual | Vibrant flowers, ideal for hanging baskets and containers. |
| Dusty Miller | Annual | Silvery foliage that complements colorful flowers beautifully. |
| Calendula (Pot Marigold) | Annual | Bright orange and yellow flowers that are also edible. |
| Alyssum | Annual | Low-growing with sweet-smelling flowers, perfect for borders. |
| Chrysanthemums (Mums) | Perennial | Available in various colors, great for fall blooms. |
| Salvia | Perennial | Attracts pollinators with long-lasting blooms. |
| Coreopsis (Tickseed) | Perennial | A native flower with cheerful yellow blooms, easy to grow. |
| Zinnias | Annual | Easy to grow with vibrant colors, perfect for cutting. |
| Lantana | Perennial | Attracts butterflies with colorful clusters of flowers. |
| Marigolds | Annual | Bright orange and yellow flowers, great for pest deterrence. |
| Cosmos | Annual | Easy to grow with tall stems and colorful blooms. |
