Published on: September 29, 2022 Written by: Callie Works-Leary Comments: 0

Ask any longtime North Texas gardener, and they’ll tell you the same thing: October is the best month to have a garden in North Texas. Warm days and cool nights are the perfect recipe for happy plants. Vegetables produce heavily, flowers bloom like crazy, and it’s finally cool enough to work in our gardens for extended periods of time.

Here is what to plant in your North Texas garden in October:

Vegetables by Seed Outdoors

  1. Broccoli
  2. Brussels Sprouts
  3. Cabbage
  4. Cauliflower
  5. Collard Greens
  6. Garlic (cloves)
  7. Lettuce
  8. Kale
  9. Radish
  10. Spinach
  11. Turnips

Vegetables by Seed Indoors

  1. Broccoli
  2. Brussels Sprouts
  3. Cabbage
  4. Cauliflower
  5. Collard Greens
  6. Lettuce
  7. Kale
  8. Spinach

Vegetables by Transplant

  1. Broccoli
  2. Brussels Sprouts
  3. Cabbage
  4. Cauliflower
  5. Collard Greens
  6. Kale
  7. Lettuce
  8. Mustard Greens
  9. Swiss Chard
  10. Spinach

Annual Ornamentals by Transplant

  1. Marigolds
  2. Petunias
  3. Calabrachoa
  4. Rudbeckia
  5. Chrysanthemums
  6. Celosia
  7. Ornamental Peppers

Perennials

October is the best month to plant perennials in North Texas. Here are a selection of the top perennials for our area:

  1. All Salvias including farinacea, greggii, and leucantha
  2. Gregg’s Mist Flower
  3. Texas Rock Rose
  4. Agastache
  5. Rudbeckia (look for ‘Goldstrum’ or other perennial types)
  6. Turk’s Cap
  7. Yarrow
  8. Caryopteris
  9. Ornamental grasses
  10. Purple Coneflower

Herbs

  1. Cilantro
  2. Chives
  3. Dill
  4. Parsley
  5. French Sorrel
  6. Rosemary
  7. Sage
  8. Thyme

General Tasks

  1. Order spring-blooming bulbs including tulips and daffodils. Pre-chill tulips and hyacinths in the fridge for at least 45 days before planting. Best time to plant bulbs in North Texas is between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  2. Divide spring-blooming perennials, especially iris.
  3. Treat cabbage worms on brassicas with Bacillus thuriengensis (Bt). Repeat every other day until infestation subsides.
  4. Watch for tomato hornworms on fall tomato plants and pick off by hand.
Callie Works-Leary
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