Sari Albornoz, Grow Local Program Director
Originally published October 2, 2015
It’s October! Not only does that mean we can finally venture outdoors without squinting and sweating in the blazing sun--it also means it’s the absolute best time of the year for gardening in Central Texas. Our fall planting season started in September, but October is still a great time to your fall garden started. With a little protection from our occasional frosts, you’ll be able to reap a harvest through the winter.
So, what can you plant this month? Many of the same scrumptious veggies we encouraged you to plant in September are also great choices for October. Here’s a list to inspire you:
- Root vegetables: Plant beets, radishes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, and rutabaga from seed this month. For a colorful harvest, try Golden, Bull’s Blood, and Chioggia beets and white, red, purple, and pink radish varieties. Carrots also come in a variety of colors, including yellow, maroon, and several shades of orange.
- Leafy greens and Brassicas: Lettuces, spinach, and Swiss chard can be planted from seed or from transplant this month. Plant members of the Brassica family, including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and cauliflower, from transplant. Kale can also be planted from seed in October.
- Alliums: The allium family features strong-tasting veggies like onions, garlic, shallots, chives, and leeks. Besides spicing up savory dishes, alliums help deter pests from your garden.
- Peas: Plant sugar snap peas, snow peas, and garden peas from seed. Be sure to provide this vining plant with a sturdy trellis to climb, and enjoy its lovely blossoms. Harvest frequently to encourage plants to produce more peas.
- Artichoke: Save space for this large, dramatic member of the thistle family (which grows to a full size of 2-3 wide and 3-4 feet tall), and you won’t regret it! Plant artichokes from transplant in October, and harvest the large flower buds in early spring (you can also leave some buds to open into brilliant periwinkle blooms.
Join us at one of our upcoming Grow Local Intro to Food Gardening class series for a hands-on learning experience to help you reap a bountiful harvest this season. We wish you a wonderful start to your fall gardens!
