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Orlando, Florida · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Orlando

This month's sowing list for Orlando, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

34 vegetables to sow or plant now

30 of them are at their best time to start. Frost is rare in Orlando.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, bok choy, cilantro, scallions and beets.

Sow or plant in Orlando in October

Start seeds indoors

  • Basil
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Cucumber
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Zucchini

Direct sow

  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Bok choy
  • Carrot
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Rutabaga
  • Scallions
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip
  • Bush beans
  • Basil Late
  • Pole beans Late
  • Zucchini Late

Transplant

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Cucumber
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Potato
  • Strawberry
  • Sweet corn
  • Basil Late
  • Zucchini Late

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time. Late ones give only a short harvest.

Last month to start: bush beans, cucumber, pole beans, potato, sweet corn and zucchini.

Ready to pick in October

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Beets
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Bush beans
  • Cantaloupe
  • Chives
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Eggplant
  • Hot pepper
  • Kale
  • Okra
  • Parsley
  • Pole beans
  • Radish
  • Scallions
  • Sweet corn
  • Sweet potato
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

  • Fava beans
  • Spinach

When to plant the favourites in Orlando

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: December to August.

Transplant: February to September.

Best time to start: February to August.

Pick: May to December.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: January to March and October.

Best time to start: January to February and October.

Pick: April to June and December to January.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: October to March.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: November to May.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: September to March.

Best time to start: September to March.

Pick: November to June.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: February to October.

Best time to start: February to September.

Pick: April to December.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: September to January.

Transplant: October to March.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: January to June.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: October to March.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: February to September.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: January to August.

Direct sow: February to September.

Transplant: February to September.

Best time to start: February to August.

Pick: May to December.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: January to October.

Direct sow: February to October.

Transplant: February to October.

Best time to start: February to September.

Pick: March to December.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Orlando

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BasilSPTSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Bell pepperTTPPPPPPPPabout 15 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BroccoliPPPPPTPabout 12 weeks
Brussels sproutsPPPTPabout 19 weeks
Bush beansSSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
CabbagePPPPPPTPabout 13 weeks
CantaloupeTSSSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
CauliflowerPPPPTTabout 14 weeks
CeleriacPPPPPTTabout 22 weeks
CeleryPPPPPPTTTabout 20 weeks
ChivesSSSSSSSSTPabout 8 weeks
CilantroSSSSSabout 5 weeks
CucumberSTSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
DillSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
EggplantTTPPPPPPPPabout 16 weeks
Fava beansSSSabout 11 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 24 weeks
Hot pepperTTPPPPPPPPabout 17 weeks
KaleSSSSSSTSabout 6 weeks
LeekPPPPPPTTabout 18 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
OkraSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
OnionPPPPPPTabout 20 weeks
ParsleySSSSSSSTSabout 7 weeks
ParsnipSSSSabout 13 weeks
PeasSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Pole beansSSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
PotatoPPPPabout 9 weeks
RadishSSSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSSabout 10 weeks
RutabagaSSSSabout 11 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
SpinachSSSSabout 5 weeks
StrawberryPPPPPPabout 15 weeks
Sweet cornPTSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
Sweet potatoPPPPPPabout 11 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
TomatoTTPPPPPPPPabout 15 weeks
TurnipSSSSSabout 6 weeks
WatermelonTPSSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
Winter squashTSSSSSSSSabout 12 weeks
ZucchiniSTSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Orlando season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: okra and sweet potato.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, cabbage, carrot, celery, chives, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, potato, radish, strawberry and Swiss chard.

Summer June to August

Time to start: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chives, kale, leek and parsley.

Last chance for: sweet potato.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, beets, carrot, cilantro, dill, fava beans, garlic, lettuce, onion, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, runner beans, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, potato, runner beans, sweet corn, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, pole beans, potato, runner beans, sweet corn, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celeriac, cilantro, fava beans, garlic, parsnip, peas, runner beans, rutabaga, spinach and turnip.

Any time of year: bok choy and scallions.

Frost in Orlando

Frost nights in a year
about 1, none in some winters
Frost is unlikely after
about February 4

Frost is rare in Orlando and light when it comes. A low corner where cold air settles is where it shows up first. Warmth, not frost, decides when tender vegetables go in here, so go by the months for each vegetable above.

Questions about planting in Orlando

What can I plant now in Orlando?

In October, 34 vegetables can be sown or planted in Orlando, including arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans and cabbage. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Orlando?

In Orlando, sow tomatoes indoors from December to August and transplant them from February to September. The best time to start is from February to August. Picking runs from May to December.

When should I plant potatoes in Orlando?

In Orlando, plant potatoes from January to March and in October. The best time to start is from January to February and in October. Picking runs from April to June and from December to January.

When should I plant garlic in Orlando?

In Orlando, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from April to July.

When is the last frost in Orlando?

Frost is rare in Orlando: about 1 night in a typical year, and none at all in some winters. Frost is unlikely after about February 4, but warmth, not frost, decides when tender vegetables go in: go by the months for each vegetable on this page.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Orlando?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), cilantro (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), spinach (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks) and beets (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Orlando. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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