What to Plant in October in North Texas

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. That’s because warm days and cool nights are the perfect recipe for happy plants. Vegetables produce heavily, flowers bloom nonstop, and it’s finally cool enough to work in our gardens for extended periods of time.

Here is what to plant in October in North Texas:

Vegetables To Plant by Seed Outdoors in October

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 To Plant by Seed Indoors in October

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

Vegetables To Transplant Into The Garden

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

For a complete Fall Vegetable Planting Schedule for North Texas go here.

Annual Flowers to Transplant

Local nurseries are stocked with these annual flowers that will breathe life and color back into your landscape.

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

Perennials to Add to Your Garden in October

October is the best month to plant perennials in North Texas. With this in mind, here is 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 to Plant in October

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

General Tasks for North Texas Gardeners

1. Order spring-blooming bulbs including tulips and daffodils. Don’t forget to re-chill tulips and hyacinths in the fridge for at least 45 days before planting. The 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). For best results, repeat every other day until infestation subsides.
4. Watch for tomato hornworms on fall tomato plants and pick off by hand.

Looking Ahead to November

In November, our priorities will be caring for our fall vegetables with consistent watering and fertilizing, planting bulbs at the end of the month, and prepping our gardens for the coming winter season. For more details about what to plant in November in North Texas, go here.

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Callie Works-Leary

Founder of The Dallas Garden School, Callie is an expert garden educator with 20 years of personal and professional gardening experience. She specializes in growing food, small-space gardening, managing community gardens, and plant propagation. She has an MBA from Southern Methodist University, a bachelor's degree from Skidmore College, and served as a horticulture intern for the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Callie is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, The Herb Society of America, the National Garden Bureau, and is a Certified Texas Master Gardener.

Latest posts by Callie Works-Leary (see all)

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