October Gardening in Alabama
October is one of the nicest months to garden in Alabama.
Cooler days make garden work easier, and many cool-season vegetables thrive.
This Month’s Priorities
Focus on:
- Cool-season vegetables
- Garlic
- Succession planting
- Frost preparation
- Mulch
- Fall harvests
Plant Cool-Season Crops
Continue planting:
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Mustard
- Kale
- Collards
- Spinach
- Onions where appropriate
Plant Garlic
Fall is garlic planting season.
Plant healthy cloves:
- Pointed end up
- In well-drained soil
- With enough spacing for bulb development
Keep Row Cover Ready
First frosts may arrive later this month in colder areas.
Protect tender crops when necessary.
Harvest Fall Crops
Begin harvesting:
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Greens
- Turnips
Mulch
Mulch helps:
- Stabilize moisture
- Suppress weeds
- Protect roots
Orchard Work
Remove fallen diseased fruit and keep orchard areas clean.
GardenGrowz Tip
October is the reward for surviving July.