Pumpkins, Pollinators & Planting Beds
October in Central Florida feels like a fresh start in the garden. The heat begins to ease, the days grow shorter, and our plants breathe a sigh of relief. This month, we’re blending the festive spirit of fall with practical gardening action: pumpkins for celebration, pollinators for balance, and planting beds for productivity.
Pumpkins in the Garden: Festive & Functional
While many pumpkin varieties struggle in Florida’s October climate, native Seminole pumpkins thrive here. These resilient, heat-tolerant pumpkins have been grown in Florida for centuries by the Seminole people and other Indigenous communities. Valued as both a staple food and a crop that could be stored for months, Seminole pumpkins remain one of the best choices for Florida gardeners today.
Ways to Enjoy Pumpkins This Month:
Grow Seminole Pumpkins: If you’re planting this fall, consider Seminole pumpkins for a crop that’s both delicious and deeply rooted in Florida history. Their sweet, nutty flesh is excellent in soups, pies, or roasted dishes, and their long storage life made them essential for Indigenous communities.
Pumpkin Planters: Hollow out a pumpkin, fill it with soil, and plant cool-weather flowers like pansies or calendula. Once the pumpkin breaks down, it can be composted directly into your garden.
Fall Décor: Scatter pumpkins and gourds around raised beds or porches to add a seasonal touch.
Farm-to-Table Flavor: Visit local farmers’ markets for heirloom squash and pumpkins perfect for cooking.
Pollinators on the Move
October is peak time for monarch butterfly migration in Florida, and your garden can serve as a rest stop for these incredible travelers.
How to Support Pollinators This Month:
Plant nectar-rich flowers like milkweed, salvia, lantana, and goldenrod.
Provide shallow water dishes with pebbles for butterflies and bees.
Avoid pesticides, which can harm visiting pollinators.
Pro Tip: Monarchs aren’t the only visitors—watch for swallowtails, hummingbirds, and bees gathering energy before winter.
Planting Beds: A Fresh Start for Fall
October is our chance to reset the garden after summer storms and heat. Think of it as Florida’s “second spring.”
Steps for Success:
Clear Out: Remove spent summer crops and weeds.
Replenish Soil: Add compost and organic matter to restore nutrients.
Mulch: A light layer keeps roots cool and conserves moisture.
What to Plant in October
October is one of the best months for planting in Central Florida. With cooler temperatures and gentler rains, a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers thrive when planted now.
Vegetables & Leafy Greens:
Lettuce, arugula, spinach, endive
Kale, collards, mustard greens, Swiss chard
Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi
Beets, carrots, radishes, turnips
Onions (bulbing & bunching), celery
Tropical spinaches (like Okinawa spinach and Malabar spinach)
Fruits & Perennials:
Strawberries
Sugarcane
Pineapple
Cool-Weather Herbs:
Cilantro
Dill
Parsley
Flowers for Color & Pollinators:
Marigolds
Calendula
Snapdragons
Top 5 Picks for October: Cilantro, Lettuce, Kale, Carrots, and Marigolds.
Featured Product: Garden Revival Tonic
As you refresh your planting beds this month, don’t forget to also feed your soil. After summer’s heavy rains and heat, the soil in Florida gardens often needs a reset before cool-season crops will thrive.
That’s where my Garden Revival Tonic comes in.
Handcrafted in small batches, this mineral-rich tonic restores vital nutrients, rebuilds microbial life, and prepares your soil for fall planting. It’s made with natural ingredients like worm castings, unsulfured molasses, lactobacillus serum, nettle, comfrey, and aloe vera.
How to Use:
Shake gently. Dilute 1–2 tablespoons per gallon of water. Apply as a root drench or foliar spray every 1–2 weeks.
Perfect for:
Refreshing raised beds & containers before fall planting.
Supporting pollinator-friendly native plantings.
Herbs, vegetables, and fruiting crops.
Soil recovery after storms or transplanting.
Available now in 16 oz bottles for $20 each (limited batches).
Late Fall Garden Tasks
Rotate Crops: Prevent soil depletion and reduce pest problems.
Start Seedlings: Try broccoli, cauliflower, and kale for late-fall planting.
Compost Cleanup: Shred fallen leaves to use as organic mulch or compost material.
Weather Watch: October in Central Florida
Temperatures: Highs 82–86°F, lows 65–70°F.
Rainfall: 2–4 inches—less frequent than summer, but still expect occasional showers.
Garden Tip: Shorter days mean slower growth. Focus on planting crops that thrive in cooler temps.
Ask the Garden Coach
Do you have questions about monarchs, cool-season planting, or soil refresh tips? Send them my way, and I might feature your question in November’s newsletter!
October Gardening Inspiration
“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.”
As you clear out summer beds, plant new seedlings, or watch monarchs drift through, let your garden remind you that every season brings renewal.
Stay Rooted, Celebrate the Season, and Keep Growing,
~Larissa
Stepping Stone Garden Co.
Contact: 727-259-5994