October Planting Guide

October is one of the best gardening months in Orange County. Our weather is not yet chilly, but by now the sweltering days of summer have usually passed. It’s also time for a changing of the guard from warm season to cool season crops. The following is a sampling of what can be planted this month.

FLOWERS

Alyssum

Bachelor button

Calendula

Candytuft

Carnation

Chrysanthemum

Columbine

Delphinium

Dianthus

English daisy

English primrose

Forget-me-not

Foxglove

Hollyhock

Larkspur

Linaria (toadflax)

Lobelia

Nemesia

Nicotiana

Pansy

Petunia

Phlox

Scabiosa

Schinzanthus

Shasta daisy

Snapdragon

Stock

Strawflowers

Sweet pea

Sweet William

Verbena

Viola

Wildflowers

Yarrow

VEGETABLES from seed or starter plants

Artichoke

Asparagus

Beet

Broccoli

Brussels sprout

Cabbage

Carrot

Cauliflower

Celery

Collard

Comfrey

Culinary Herbs

Endive

Garlic

Horseradish

Kohlrabi

Kale

Leek

Lettuce

Mustard greens

Onion

Parsley

Parsnip

Peas

Radish

Rhubarb

Rutabaga

Salsify

Shallot

Spinach

Swiss chard

Turnip

Researched by Julie Bawden Davis / For The Times