Sweater Weather? October Gardening Tasks for Cool and Warm Climates

Here in the Midwest, we’ve got our frost blankets ready. When the forecast calls for a dip into temps below 40ºF, we cover the crops that need protection. Often, there will be an early frost, followed by several more weeks of warm weather. Covering crops on those cold nights can extend our growing season by several more weeks.

October can also be a great time to enjoy fresh greens. We plant spinach and other leafy greens in our high tunnel/hoophouse for cool-weather fresh salads.

Even though many of the perennials are dying back, we leave rudbeckia, echinacea, and blanket flower for the birds to feast on the seeds.

October is also the time to look at overwintering.

Take time to plan and prep for your next growing season.

• Save your favorite seeds. Follow these steps for seed saving.

• Mark your perennials. For perennials that die back in winter, marking the location is crucial. This will save your plants from being pulled up or smothered when you’re amending soil and planting spring crops.

• Test your soil. If you haven’t tested your garden soil in a few years, now is the time to do it. Fall soil testing will give you time to make the necessary amendments before the spring planting season.

• Sharpen and store tools for winter. October is also a good time to check for sales on garden tools.

• Cover garden beds with leaves, straw, or a cover crop to protect the soil.

What can you plant in October?

• Plant cover crops. Cover crops are better than bare soil over winter. Grow cover crops to prevent soil erosion and enrich the soil.

• In most locations, October is the perfect time to plant your spring-flowering bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths).

• Garlic can be planted now to harvest next summer.

• Pot up herbs like parsley, chives, and rosemary to bring indoors.
  
  

• Try overwintering your pepper plants for an earlier harvest next year.

A little maintenance now will ensure a healthier garden.

• October is the ideal time to eliminate those pesky weeds. Use our favorite weeding tools. Once you’ve eliminated the weeds, prevent them from coming back by covering your garden beds or planting cover crops. Don’t leave the soil bare.

• Protect crops from frost. Protect cool-weather crops (like kale, carrots, and spinach) with row covers or cold frames.

• Clean up any fungal problems. Don’t compost diseased plant material.

• You may need to bring in outdoor plants. Remember to quarantine them first so they don’t infect your indoor plants.

• Drain and store hoses and irrigation equipment before freezing temperatures.
  
  

• Rake fallen leaves to use as mulch or compost.

October harvesting has an added urgency for preservation.

• Pumpkins and winter squash can be harvested and cured for storage. Make sure to pick them before the first frost.

• Harvest root vegetables such as beets and carrots after a light freeze or frost for a sweeter taste.

• Gather late-season herbs. Dry or freeze herbs to use in teas and herbal remedies.

• Collect seeds from flowers and herbs to save for spring.

Our gardening friends in California, Texas, Florida, and other warm climates have some additional garden tasks.

There’s hardly a month that goes by that you aren’t doing some type of garden planning and prepping.

• Prep garden beds for another crop. Add compost to beds to refresh soil before fall planting.
  
  

• Plan succession planting for cool-season crops to extend the harvest season.
  
  

• Start a fall compost pile with leaves, garden trimmings, and kitchen scraps.
  
  

• Get your soil tested. The results of a soil test can help inform fertilizing and amendments for the next growing season.

In warmer climates, there are lots of seed options for October planting.

• Plant cool-season vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, spinach, carrots, beets, and lettuce.

• Direct sow herbs like cilantro, dill, parsley, and chervil.

• Coreopsis is a perennial flower you can plant in October.

• Plant annual fall flowers like pansies, calendula, and snapdragons.

• Start perennial herbs (oregano, thyme, and sage) for winter and spring growth.

• Onions are an excellent seed to sow in warmer climates.
  
  

You can use this chart as a guide for planting ideas if you’re in Florida.

Take a look at your garden beds and any structures that need updating.

• Mulch around fall crops to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
  
  

• Monitor for pests like aphids and caterpillars, which can still be active.
  
  

• Water consistently. Cooler weather means slower evaporation, but new seedlings still need care.
  
  

• Thin seedlings to prevent overcrowding.

• Maintain garden structures. Check the strength of your garden trellis and make repairs as needed.

Continuing the harvest of cucumbers and beans will keep them producing.

• Continue harvesting late summer crops (peppers, eggplant, okra).

• Harvest fall greens regularly for fresh salads.

• Gather herbs like basil before the first frost.
  
  

• Cut flowers like marigolds and zinnias until frost kills them.