Sally Scalera

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

October gardening plans

Sept. 26, 2009

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.

  • 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.)
  • 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 anymore so that the colorful bracts can form.
  • 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 Lysol on all pruning equipment and 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!

Schools, churches and other public locations that want to improve their landscape should check out the Keep Brevard Beautiful (KBB) Beautification Grant. An informational workshop is being offered Tuesday, October 6th from 4-6 p.m. For more information call KBB at 631-0501 or check out their website at www.keepbrevardbeautiful.com

Vegetable Gardening Classes scheduled for October include: Thursday, October 1st at W. Melbourne Library from 10 – 11 a.m., Monday October 5th at the Mims/Scottsmoor Library from 2-3 p.m., Tuesday, October 6th at the Central Brevard Library (Cocoa) from 2-3 p.m. Two Growing Herb Classes are also scheduled for October on Thursday, October 15th at the Cocoa Beach Library from 10-11 a.m. and again on Thursday, October 29th at the W. Melbourne Library from 10-11 a.m. The cost for a class is $5. To register, go on-line at http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/ and at the bottom of the left hand column click on Class Registration or you can call us at (321) 633-1702 to register.

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.