GreenlyWhat to plant in October in Florida
Worked out for 9 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in October in Florida, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Miami, Tampa and 2 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 21 more; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Jacksonville, Orlando and 3 more): zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy and borage.
In Florida, October is fall.
Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Miami, Tampa, Fort Myers and St. Petersburg
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 83 to 85 °F and lows of 69 to 73 °F, 3.4 to 6.3 in of rain on 10 to 20 days; the day lasts 11 h 32 min to 11 h 35 min (on the 15th).
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, beet, parsley, kohlrabi, mustard greens, turnip | Miami |
| plant sets | Onion | Miami |
| set out transplants | Cauliflower | Miami |
| set out transplants or start indoors, plant out in December | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | Miami and Fort Myers |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage | all |
| set out transplants or start indoors, plant out in November | Cucumber | Miami, Fort Myers and St. Petersburg |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Melon | Fort Myers |
| sow direct | Watermelon, pumpkin, Napa cabbage, okra | Fort Myers and St. Petersburg |
| sow direct | Sweet Corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, peanut, soybean | Miami, Fort Myers and St. Petersburg |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Achocha | Miami and Fort Myers |
| start indoors, plant out in January | Celeriac, celery | Miami and Fort Myers |
Compared with September: new — spinach, radish, carrot, cauliflower, beet, kohlrabi, mustard greens and turnip.
Ready to harvest in October in St. Petersburg, if sown in the right month: zucchini (August), green beans (August), watermelon (July), pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), basil (August), bok choy (August) and borage (August).
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Jacksonville, Orlando, Tallahassee, Gainesville and 1 more
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 79 to 82 °F and lows of 63 to 69 °F, 2.2 to 4.6 in of rain on 6 to 13 days; the day lasts 11 h 28 min to 11 h 31 min (on the 15th).
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, cabbage, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, chickpea, dill, mustard greens | Pensacola |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | Pensacola |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Lettuce, cauliflower, Swiss chard, kale, kohlrabi | Pensacola |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Broccoli, leek, Brussels sprouts | Pensacola |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage | all |
Compared with September: new — broad bean, peas, onion, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard and 13 more; no longer sown — cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano and 6 more.
Not starting in October: tomato (December, started indoors), bell pepper (December, started indoors) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Tallahassee.
Ready to harvest in October in Tallahassee, if sown in the right month: zucchini (August), green beans (August), watermelon (July), pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), basil (August), bok choy (August) and borage (August).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in October and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in October if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
Miami follows the UF/IFAS planting months for South Florida crop by crop (fall is the main season there); the other Florida cities follow the general rule.
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for October 2027
- What to plant in October: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
Other months in Florida
- What to plant in October in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in October in the South
- What to plant in October in Texas
- What to plant in October in California
- What to plant in October in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in October in the Southwest
- What to plant in October in the Mountain West
- What to plant in October in Canada
- What to plant in October in the UK
