October in the Garden

Finally! It is officially fall in Central Texas and that means the oppressive summer heat has broken and we can all rush back outside to garden in earnest. Rains hopefully will arrive mid month to replenish soil moisture and rainwater harvesting tanks. See below for things that should be on your October gardening to-dos. Happy gardening!

October Garden Tips

Flowers to Plant

Allyssum, Sweet
Calendula
Centaurea
Dusty Miller
Johnny Jump Up
Larkspur
Nasturtium
Pansies (mid October)
Poppies
Snapdragon
Sweet Pea

Seeds to Sow

Beets
Carrots
Fava Beans
Greens – cool season
Leeks (early-mid Oct)
Onions – bulbing
Onions – bunching, multiplying
Peas – English, snow, snap (early Oct)
Radishes
Turnips

Things to Transplant

Artichokes (early – mid Oct)
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Garlic
Shallots

Things to Sow or Transplant

Asian Greens
Collards
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce (mid-late Oct)
Mustard
Spinach (mid- late Oct)
Swiss Chard

October Garden To-Dos

Fall is time for planting!

Fall is the best time of year to plant perennials, trees, shrubs, vines, or ground covers here in Central Texas. New stocks of perennials and grasses should be available at local nurseries, so plant this month before frost arrives. Plant spring blooming bulbs. It’s also time to plant wildflower seeds (you have until Thanksgiving). Many veggie gardeners find the fall season to be more productive than spring in our area, so check out the Veggie Planting Calendar to plan your fall veggie garden.

Keep an eye on the weather

As temperatures fall, water evaporation will begin to slow. Monitor your irrigation and reduce schedule by 1/3 until fall rains arrive.

Save money at HEB by growing exotic vegetables

Consider getting the most value from your garden by growing vegetables that cost a premium at the grocery store. For example, romanesco cauliflower costs twice that of regular white cauliflower, yet it is easy to grow.

Sow spring wildflower seeds

October is the best month to plant wildflower seeds. You will get a higher rate of germination and healthier plants by sowing seed in a prepared site. Scalp any existing grasses and remove the clippings so the seeds can make direct contact with the soil. Keep the site lightly moist with short, frequent waterings until the seedlings are about 1″ tall, then switch to less frequent, deeper waterings until healthy roots are established.

Plant all trees, shrubs, and perennials

Fall is the best season for planting in Central Texas! Plant all landscape plants, and sow winter cover crops in any unplanted veggie beds.

Lawn logic

Add compost to your lawn. October is the last month to add sod, so be prepared to water according to temperature and weather. Overseeding is not recommended except for very high traffic areas (like dog runs.) The overseeded species can stress the warm-season grasses and reduces the health of the entire lawn.

Keep an eye out for pests

Caterpillars become active again. Monitor plants for holes and droppings. Control by picking them off or spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Mulch tip

Don’t waste your money on buying bags of mulch at the store. Run over fallen leaves with the lawnmower, then use the shredded material as mulch for perennials.

Plant garlic

Garlic is a kitchen staple, good companion plant, and easy to grow. Softneck garlic is better suited for our area, and is best planted in October and November. Shallots, a cousin of garlic and onions are planted here in September and October. Soil preparation is similar for both, and you can read more on the Natural Gardener’s Garlic and Shallots planting guide (PDF).

Plant spring-blooming, naturalizing bulbs

Some bulbs require refrigeration and have to be replanted every year, but naturalizing bulbs are well-suited to our soils and climate. Anemones, oxblood lilies, spider lilies, grape muscari, and many types of narcissus have been gracing Austin homesteads for well over a hundred years, and continue to thrive today. They’ll return year after year, increase in number, and require virtually no care. Our shipment of these naturalizing bulbs typically arrives at the end of September and can be planted anytime this month.

Cut back all Tropical Milkweed this month

Scientists are still debating the long term effects of non-native tropical milkweed on the monarch population. If you have tropical milkweed growing in your Central Texas garden, we strongly advise cutting the plant back sometime in October. New tropical milkweed transplants will not be available for sale again until next spring.

Garden Tips courtesy of The Natural Gardener and Texas AgriLife Extension.