Fall planting season in Southern California begins in October

Now that fall is officially here, it’s time for Southern California gardeners to plant a new crop of vegetables and flowers and to re-seed or sod.

Eliminate summer vegetables: Tomatoes and squash often produce well into fall, but other summer vegetables will have already run their course. There is no need to continue caring for them. Remove summer plants that do not produce and replace them with vegetables that thrive in fall. These include beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, radish, spinach, potatoes, turnips, zucchini, winter and celery. After a summer heating workout, your garden soil will need an infusion of compost before planting in the fall.

Plant cool weather flowers: Remove summer annuals and plant flowers that grow particularly well in fall. These include sweet peas, pansies, violas, primroses, marigolds, chrysanthemums, cineraria, dianthus, delphinium, Iceland poppies, nemesia, and snapdragon.

Plant wild flowers: Add a mix of western wildflower seeds to your garden. Sprinkle the seeds directly onto the soil by hand or with a seed spreader (for larger areas). Lightly pat into moist soil (make sure the seeds are not buried). Water until plants are at least 4″ tall. Natural rainfall should provide sufficient water. However, water as needed if we experience dry conditions.

Plant or shore up lawns: October is the perfect time of year to replace part or an entire lawn, either with seed or turf. Grass types suitable for Southern California include tall fescue, bermudagrass, St. Augustine, bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. Remove any patches of crabgrass or other weeds and plant with a grass seed that matches your lawn. When planting seeds or grass, use a lawn dressing. The mulch material works its way into the root zone and becomes humus for the turf.

Plant a fall herb garden: Many herbs can be planted in the fall, including garlic, oregano, parsley, rosemary, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel, and thyme. Once they finish their growth cycle, dry the leaves and use them for cooking.

Reduce watering: Gardeners can breathe easier when they open their water bills in October. Unless hot Santa Ana winds are a problem this month, gardeners can reduce the amount of water for their lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs. When watering, water deeply but not too often. Turn off water timers when it rains.

Choose pumpkins: Pumpkins should be ready for picking in October. It will be time to harvest when the vines leading to the gourds are dry and the squash skin is firm. Leave about two inches of stem attached to the squash when you remove it from the plant to prevent the squash from spoiling. Pumpkins can stay fresh for months after picking.