Lettuce
Vegetables
Start seeds indoors Sow outdoors Transplant
Cool-season leafy green; transplants easily. UF/IFAS: North Jan–Feb & Sept–Oct; Central & South Sept–Feb. Leaf types suit Florida best.
Seasonal planting guide
What to plant in October in Florida
October is prime cool-season planting across much of Florida. Timing still shifts from North to South — enter your ZIP for a calendar matched to your area, or browse highlights drawn from our curated Extension-aligned calendars.
Highlights below follow our Central Florida track. About 101 plants appear somewhere in Florida calendars for October across covered areas — your ZIP picks the right list.
Five-digit U.S. ZIP from the curated multi-region map.
Try a sample ZIP
Tap one to fill the form, then see this month’s list for that area.
Highlights for October
A curated sample from our calendars — not the full list. Open any plant for month-by-month timing, or use your ZIP above for everything in season now.
Spinach
Vegetables
Sow outdoors Transplant
True spinach for coolest months only. UF/IFAS outdoor: North Oct–Nov; Central Sept–Mar; South Oct–Feb. (New Zealand/Malabar spinach are warm-season substitutes.)
Kale
Vegetables
Start seeds indoors Sow outdoors Transplant
Cool-season brassica. UF/IFAS outdoor: North & Central Sept–Feb; South Sept–Jan. Transplant or direct sow.
Collards
Vegetables
Start seeds indoors Sow outdoors Transplant
Heat-tolerant cool-season green. UF/IFAS: North Feb–Apr & Sept–Nov; Central Sept–Feb; South Sept–Jan.
Cilantro
Herbs
Sow outdoors Transplant
Cool-season annual that bolts in heat. Best fall–winter; successive sowings. North Sept–Mar; Central Oct–Feb; South Oct–Feb.
Parsley
Herbs
Sow outdoors Transplant
Cool-season biennial grown as annual in Florida; plant in fall. North Sept–Mar; Central Sept–Feb; South Oct–Feb.
Dill
Herbs
Sow outdoors
Prefers mild weather (not extreme heat/cold). Cool-shoulder plantings similar to cilantro. North Feb–Apr & Sept–Nov; Central Oct–Mar; South Nov–Feb.
Chives
Herbs
Sow outdoors Transplant
Perennial allium; divide or transplant in cool seasons. North Feb–Apr & Sept–Oct; Central Oct–Mar; South Oct–Feb.
Strawberry
Fruit
Transplant
Florida home crop planted as annuals in fall. UF/IFAS: North Oct–Nov; Central ~Sept 25–Oct 25; South October. Use bare-root or plug transplants.
Citrus (container / yard)
Fruit
Transplant
Container-grown trees can be planted year-round per UF/IFAS, but establish best in warm months and protect from freezes in north FL. South/central are friendlier landscapes.
Avocado
Fruit
Transplant
Subtropical; best in central/south FL with freeze protection northward. Plant container trees in warm months. Timing approximate from tropical fruit guidance — confirm cold-hardy cultivars locally. Outdoor calendars…
Calendula
Flowers
Start seeds indoors Sow outdoors Transplant
Cool-season annual; spring and fall sowings. Fades in midsummer heat. Approximate.
Pansy
Flowers
Transplant
Cool-season color. EP451: plant pansy/viola for chill months. North Sept–Nov transplants; Central Oct–Dec; South Nov–Jan.
Sweet alyssum
Flowers
Start seeds indoors Sow outdoors Transplant
Cool-season edging annual; spring/fall. Approximate SE cool-season windows.
Snapdragon
Flowers
Transplant
Cool-season annual (EP451). Transplant in fall for winter–spring bloom. North Sept–Nov; Central Oct–Dec; South Nov–Jan.
More seasonal guides
- What to plant in March in Florida
- What to plant in October in Texas
- What to plant in October in Southern California
Calendars are curated from public Extension and USDA sources. See About & sources.