What to Plant in Your Central Florida Garden This Fall

If you have been waiting all summer for the heat to break so you can get back in the garden, the wait is over. September and October are the green light for Central Florida gardeners — the start of a six-month growing season that runs all the way through April. Here is exactly what to plant right now in Brevard County.

The Central Florida Fall Planting Window

The key dates to know:

• September: Start seeds indoors for transplanting in October. Direct sow heat-tolerant greens and herbs outdoors.
• October: The main planting month. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, and brassica starts. Direct sow root vegetables, greens, and beans.
• November: Continue planting cool-season crops. Add strawberries. Start thinking about frost protection for tender plants.

Soil temperature is the real trigger — most cool-season crops want soil between 60–75°F to germinate well. In Brevard County, that window typically opens in mid-to-late October.

Vegetables to Plant This Fall

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the crown jewel of the Florida fall garden. Plant transplants in October for a harvest that runs from December through February. Varieties that perform well in Central Florida include:

• Celebrity — reliable, disease-resistant, great all-around performer
• Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes — prolific and forgiving, excellent for containers
• Better Boy — large fruit, strong disease resistance
• Heatmaster — bred specifically for Florida's warm conditions

Give tomatoes a full-sun location, a sturdy cage or stake, and consistent watering. They will reward you with months of fruit.

Peppers

Peppers love Central Florida's fall climate and will produce all the way through spring if you keep them healthy. Bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapeños, and sweet Italian peppers all do well. Plant transplants in October and give them full sun and well-drained soil.

Broccoli and Cauliflower

These are among the most rewarding fall crops in Florida. Start seeds indoors in September and transplant in October, or buy transplants from the nursery. They need full sun, consistent moisture, and protection from caterpillars — fine insect netting works extremely well for keeping cabbage loopers and other moth larvae off the plants without any spraying.

Cabbage and Kale

Both are cold-hardy and productive through the winter months. Kale is especially easy — direct sow seeds in October and thin to 12 inches apart. It will keep producing leaves for months. Cabbage takes longer to head up but is worth the wait.

Lettuce and Salad Greens

Lettuce is one of the fastest and most satisfying fall crops. Direct sow seeds in October and you can be harvesting baby greens in as little as 30 days. Varieties to try:

• Buttercrunch — tender, heat-tolerant for early fall
• Black Seeded Simpson — fast-growing loose-leaf
• Romaine — upright, crisp, excellent for cut-and-come-again harvesting

Sow a new row every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest through spring.

Carrots and Radishes

Both are direct-sow crops that go straight into the ground. Carrots need loose, deep soil — raised beds or containers work better than compacted in-ground soil. Radishes are the fastest vegetable in the garden, ready to harvest in as little as 25 days. They are a great crop for kids and for filling gaps between slower-growing plants.

Bush Beans

Direct sow bush beans in October for a harvest in about 55 days. They are easy, productive, and do not need staking. Plant a second round in November for a continuous harvest.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers can go in during October in Central Florida. They grow fast, produce heavily, and love the warm soil and cooler air temperatures of fall. Give them a trellis to climb and keep them well watered.

Squash

Both summer squash (zucchini, yellow squash) and winter squash (butternut, acorn) can be planted in fall. Summer squash is faster and more productive; winter squash takes longer but stores well. Watch for squash vine borers — insect netting over young plants prevents the moths from laying eggs at the base of the stems.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a warm-season crop that can be planted in early fall while the soil is still warm. They need 90–120 days to mature, so an early October planting can yield a harvest in January or February.

Herbs to Plant This Fall

Fall is the best time to establish a herb garden in Central Florida. Most culinary herbs thrive in the cooler months:

• Basil — plant now while it is still warm enough; it fades as temperatures drop below 50°F
• Parsley — easy, productive, and cold-hardy through winter
• Cilantro — loves cool weather; direct sow in October for a fall and winter harvest
• Dill — direct sow in October; great for fresh use and pickling
• Oregano and thyme — perennial in Central Florida; plant once and they keep coming back
• Rosemary — thrives in Florida's climate year-round; plant in fall for best establishment
• Chives — cold-hardy and easy; great in containers

Flowers to Plant This Fall

Fall is also the right time to plant cool-season annuals for color through the winter months:

• Petunias — one of the best performers in Florida's fall and winter gardens
• Snapdragons — cool-season favorites that bloom prolifically in mild weather
• Pansies and violas — cold-hardy and colorful through winter
• Marigolds — still going strong in early fall and useful as pest deterrents near vegetables
• Zinnias — wrap up their summer run in September; replace with cool-season flowers in October

A Note on Pest Protection

Fall brings a new wave of garden pests, particularly caterpillars from moths that are active in the cooler months. Cabbage loopers, armyworms, and other moth larvae can devastate brassicas and leafy greens quickly. The most effective and chemical-free solution is fine insect netting — it keeps moths from laying eggs on your plants in the first place, eliminating the caterpillar problem before it starts.

We Have Everything You Need

We carry fall vegetable transplants, herb starts, cool-season flower transplants, seeds, potting mix, compost, and fertilizers at the nursery at 3170 Grissom Parkway in Cocoa. Stop in and we will help you put together a planting list for your space and get your fall garden started on the right foot.