What to Plant in October in Zone 11
65 crops you can start in zone 11a & 11b during October. Zone 11 doesn't get a killing frost in a typical year, so these dates follow the local growing seasons rather than frost dates. Each crop links to its full dates for zone 11.
Start indoors in October
Seeds to start under lights or on a sunny sill this month. Dates are the indoor-start window for zone 11.
Vegetables & herbs
- ArtichokeOct 23–Oct 30
- EggplantJun–DecSummer
- RosemaryOct 23–Oct 30
- Sweet PotatoOct–JulFall
- TomatoJun–DecSummer
Peppers
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)May–NovSummer
- 7 Pot Primo PepperMay–NovSummer
- Aji Amarillo PepperMay–NovSummer
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)Jun–DecSummer
- Bell PepperJun–DecSummer
- Carolina Reaper PepperMay–NovSummer
- Cayenne PepperJun–DecSummer
- Chile de Árbol PepperJun–DecSummer
- Cubanelle PepperJun–DecSummer
- Datil PepperMay–NovSummer
- Dorset Naga PepperMay–NovSummer
- Fresno PepperJun–DecSummer
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)May–NovSummer
- Guajillo Pepper (Mirasol)Jun–DecSummer
- Habanero PepperMay–NovSummer
- Hungarian Wax PepperJun–DecSummer
- Italian Frying Pepper (Corno di Toro, Marconi)Jun–DecSummer
- Jalapeño PepperJun–DecSummer
- Komodo Dragon PepperMay–NovSummer
- Lemon Drop PepperMay–NovSummer
- Mini Sweet Pepper (Snacking)Jun–DecSummer
- Naga Viper PepperMay–NovSummer
- Padrón PepperJun–DecSummer
- Pasilla Pepper (Chilaca)Jun–DecSummer
- Pimento PepperJun–DecSummer
- Poblano Pepper (Ancho)Jun–DecSummer
- Rocoto PepperMay–NovSummer
- Scotch Bonnet PepperMay–NovSummer
- Serrano PepperJun–DecSummer
- Shishito PepperJun–DecSummer
- Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)May–NovSummer
- Sweet Banana PepperJun–DecSummer
- Sweet Cherry PepperJun–DecSummer
- Tabasco PepperMay–NovSummer
- Thai Chili Pepper (Bird's Eye)Jun–DecSummer
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion PepperMay–NovSummer
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T PepperMay–NovSummer
Flowers
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Oct 30–Nov 6
- ColeusOct 23–Oct 30
- Dusty MillerOct 30–Nov 6
- EucalyptusOct 30–Nov 6
- ImpatiensOct 23–Oct 30
- LisianthusOct 2–Oct 9
- Pansy / ViolaOct 9–Oct 16
- PetuniaOct 30–Nov 6
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)Oct 23–Oct 30
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)Oct 23–Oct 30
- Wax BegoniaOct 9–Oct 16
Sow or plant outside in October
What goes in the ground this month, either as seed or as a transplant. Dates are the planting-out window for zone 11.
Vegetables & herbs
- ArugulaDirect sowOct–MarFall
- Bush BeansDirect sowSep–AprFall
- Collard GreensSow or transplantSep–JanFall
- CucumberSow or transplantSep–FebFall
- EggplantTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Escarole (Endive)Sow or transplantSep–MarFall
- KohlrabiSow or transplantOct–FebFall
- Lima BeanDirect sowSep–AprFall
- Mustard GreensDirect sowSep–JanFall
- Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage)Sow or transplantSep–AprFall
- OkraSow or transplantAug–OctSummer
- Summer Squash (Yellow)Sow or transplantAug–MarSummer
- TomatoTransplantAug–FebSummer
- ZucchiniSow or transplantAug–MarSummer
Peppers
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- 7 Pot Primo PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Aji Amarillo PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Bell PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Carolina Reaper PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Cayenne PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Chile de Árbol PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Cubanelle PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Datil PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Dorset Naga PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Fresno PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Guajillo Pepper (Mirasol)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Habanero PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Hungarian Wax PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Italian Frying Pepper (Corno di Toro, Marconi)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Jalapeño PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Komodo Dragon PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Lemon Drop PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Mini Sweet Pepper (Snacking)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Naga Viper PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Padrón PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Pasilla Pepper (Chilaca)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Pimento PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Poblano Pepper (Ancho)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Rocoto PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Scotch Bonnet PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Serrano PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Shishito PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Sweet Banana PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Sweet Cherry PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Tabasco PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Thai Chili Pepper (Bird's Eye)TransplantAug–FebSummer
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T PepperTransplantAug–FebSummer
← September in zone 11 · November in zone 11 →
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October in other zones: zone 3, zone 4, zone 5, zone 6, zone 7, zone 8, zone 9, zone 10
Worth having in October
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What to plant in October in zone 11: 65 crops to start indoors or plant outside, including bell pepper, cucumber, zucchini, bush beans, with exact dates for zone 11a and 11b.
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