October Garden Guide, Zone 10

October is the second planting-time of the year! October is also a wonderful time to look at your garden and make any changes that you’d like, since this is the one time of the year you can move and transplant your favorite trees, bushes and perennial crops and flowers to a new spot with the best chance of their survival.

October weather ranges from the 60’s through the 90’s. I keep my eye on the weather forecast and wait for a wave of cool weather before transplanting or sowing anything.

OCTOBER TO-DO LIST

• Treat pests and disease on any of the fruit trees.
• Transplant 
• Mix cover crops seeds into you garden beds
• Start winter green seeds ( see above) 
• Rake up leaves for compost (carbon)
• Check on rain barrels for water harvesting
• Cut down annual summer crops once they dry out

SEEDS TO START IN OCTOBER, ZONE 10

Find your Zone by entering your zip code at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map here. 

• Arugula 
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower 
• Collards
• Garlic
• Lettuce
• Onion
• Peas
• Radishes 
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard

OCTOBER HARVEST

October is the height of apple season!

• Apples
• Basil
• Beans
• Cilantro
• Cucumber
• Jalapeños 
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Orange
• Onion
• Parsley
• Pumpkin
• Rainbow Swiss chard
• Rosemary
• Acorn squash
• Tomatoes 
• Tomatillos 
• Zucchini

This October, I’m taking it easy since I have a little bun in the oven. 

Happy gardening,

Laura

OCTOBER FAVORITES

• Mason Tops Fermentation Kit - Start making homemade sauerkraut, curtido, and kimchi.

• Ball Preserving Starter Kit - Make your first batch of fruit jam.

Food Mill, Cuisinart - For making tomato sauce, apple sauce, jellies and mashed potatoes.

• Ball Storage Lids for Regular Mouth Jars and Wide Mouth Jars - So happy I found these!