What to plant in October in a California vegetable garden

A Saturday morning is a good time to swap out the tired summer garden. In much of California, October is when cool-season vegetables go in, so they can grow through the mild, wetter months ahead.

UC Master Gardeners in Santa Clara County suggest sowing these from seed in October: lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard and kale; radishes, carrots, beets and turnips; broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower; and quick growers like cilantro and peas. Bok choy, napa cabbage, daikon and gai choy also do well from seed or transplants. Garlic and shallots can be planted from mid-October through November.

Start by pulling finished warm-season plants and adding compost to the bed. Mulch any bare soil so it holds moisture and keeps weeds down before the rains. The Orange County Master Gardeners note that the rainy season there usually starts in November, which is why fall planting works so well in Southern California. They also suggest cool-season flowers like snapdragons, pansies, violas and calendulas.

This weekend is very hot across much of the state, so plant seeds and seedlings in the early morning or evening, water them in well, and give new transplants a little shade for the first few days if you can.

If you are new to this, start small with two crops from the list, such as radishes and lettuce, which can be sown directly from seed.

For your area's exact timing, check your county's UC Master Gardener page, since coastal, valley and mountain gardens differ.