Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

October gardening plans

Sept. 27, 2008

Now that October is almost here I can’t help but think of fall. Of course, in Florida, fall doesn't quite feel or look the same as it does up north but, at least summer is officially over and the weather will hopefully be getting cooler (not colder, just cooler) in the near future. If you want to get outside there are plenty of things to do in the yard so, read on if you need any suggestions.

  • On Thursday, October 9 at 10 a.m. there will be a Rain Barrel Workshop at the Agriculture and Extension Service located at 3695 Lake Drive in Cocoa. Another workshop will be held on Saturday, October 18th at 10 a.m. at the St. Johns River Water Management District Service Center located at 595 Community College Parkway in Palm Bay. The cost for the rain barrel workshop is $40. Pre-registration is required so that all the materials for rain barrel construction will be available. Please pre-register by calling Elizabeth Melvin at 633-2016 or e-mail to elizabeth.melvin@brevardcounty.us.
  • As the temperatures cool down a little and the days become shorter the turf won’t require as much water (maybe only once a week.) Let your lawn tell you when it’s time to water. Don’t turn on your irrigation again until an area of the lawn folds up its leaf blades.
  • Replant spent flower beds with cool-season annuals such as: alyssum, calendula, chrysanthemum, dianthus, geranium, petunia, snapdragon, pansy, flowering tobacco, stock, and flowering kale.
  • If you have poinsettias, do not prune them now so that the colorful bracts can form.
  • Now is a good time to plant container-grown trees and shrubs.
  • Give your hedges their final trimming before winter sets in.
  • Remove all dead or diseased wood from your shrubs and trees. To keep from spreading any diseases when pruning, wipe the blades clean and then spray a mild bleach solution on all pruning equipment and then let it air dry.
  • A few of the herbs that can be planted this month include: borage, chives, coriander, parsley, lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, lemon grass and thyme.
  • Bulbs that can be added to the landscape include; Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus), amaryllis, calla, crinum, Aztec lily (Sprekelia), Anemone, Society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), Snowflake (Leucojum), Kaffir lily (Clivia), Walking iris (Neomarica), Narcissus, Iris (not German or Japanese), Watsonia (Watsonia spp.), Spider lily (Hymenocallis sp.) Elephant ears (Alocasia, Colocasia, Xanthosoma) African iris (Moraea spp.), Tritonia crocata var. miniata and rain lily (Zephyranthes spp.).
  • If you want to plant strawberries October and November are your only months to plant them!
  • If you haven't done it yet - add a fresh layer of compost to your garden now before you plant your cool-season crops.
  • Delay all of your pruning of deciduous vines and fruit trees until mid-winter.
  • Vegetables that can be planted in October include: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots (sow the seeds directly in the garden), cauliflower, celery, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions- bulbing, bunching and multipliers, English peas, radishes (sow the seeds directly in the garden), spinach, and turnips.
  • Vegetable seeds that can be sown in October for planting out in garden in November are: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, English peas, spinach and turnips.
  • To ensure that your poinsettia and Christmas cactus bloom during the holidays, make sure that they get at least 14 hours of total and uninterrupted darkness through the night. Only if there are flood lights, street lights or house lights nearby will you need to start covering the plants now with a dark cloth or box during the night, starting in the late afternoon and uncovering it in the morning. Continue to do this until the middle of December or blooming begins, whichever comes first.
  • Here is a list of some of the fresh produce that could be available at produce stands or farmer’s markets in October: Avocado, Asian pear, atemoya, carambola, eggplant; endive/escarole, grapefruit, guava, oranges, passion fruit; peppers, radishes, squash, sweet corn, tangerines & tangelos and tomatoes.