Zone 8 - What to Plant in October

Zone 8 - What to Plant in October

Zone 8 growers still have a couple months of growing season before their first frost arrives in late November. The earlier you start in October the better. Try direct sowing some kale, spinach, radish and other second season vegetables. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 8 in October.

The Mild French garlic is a bold flavored garlic that is quick growing. This garlic variety was first bred by Porter & Sons seedhouse. The Mild French can be grown throughout the United States, even taking the stiff heat of far Southern areas. Its plants grow taller and mature more quickly than most other members of the Silverskin family. Mild French's bulbs will yield an average of 12-14 cloves. The flavor of the Mild French varies a bit based on the climate. This garlic offers a bold flavor that has greater heat the further north it’s grown! Mild French is a very long storing silverskin garlic up to a year. Approximately 12-15 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 12-14 cloves per bulb.

The Collection Mix is a delicious mix of our three most popular garlics, California Early, Italian Red and Spanish Roja. Approximately 8 cloves/ bulb. Approximately 75-85 garlic cloves/ pound. Each variety offered in the collection comes in increments of 1/4 lbs. California Early Garlic Early season garlic harvest with excellent flavor! This is likely the most commonly grown variety in the U.S., and for good reason. It is a large, easy to grow softneck, with a nice mild flavor and excellent storage ability. Cal-Early is one of our "work-horse" varieties we depend on, year after year, for fresh market and garlic braiding. The skins are a nice off-white with a purple blush and it produces 8-10 cloves per head. Italian Red Garlic A great tasting and excellent storage garlic! A variety that is widely grown throughout the United States. Early Italian Red is a hardneck garlic that is very heat-tolerant porcelain garlic that can be planted in spring of fall! Spanish Roja Garlic Early season garlic harvest! A gourmet best-selling garlic for home gardens! Excellent classic rich flavor. Each bulb has about 8-12 cloves. Outer wrapper varies in color, from a rich cream to deep purple stripes. Cloves are large with a brownish red color and are easy to peel. Keeps well, 4-6 months. During curing many bulbs lose their stems. *Similar substitutions will be made at end of garlic season. We will replace any out of stock garlic with similar variety. If no substitution is wanted please order items separately.

Georgian Crystal garlic has a rich flavor and mild heat for a Porcelain hardneck. When slow roasted this variety, it has an amazing buttery flavor that melts in your mouth! This garlic grows well throughout the USA, but even better in areas with hot summers. Averages 4-5 cloves per bulb.

Yugoslavian garlic is considered a porcelain, which is a great storing garlic! This variety is hot & spicy and holds its shape and flavor well when cooked. Yugoslavian is regarded by some as the best if you like a good kick and is a hardneck variety.

The Midnight Ruffles Lettuce gets its name for being one of the darkest red loose leaf lettuces around! This variety is a delicious new lettuce variety that has extra crinkled leaves, with toothed edges. The Midnight Ruffles hearts are very densely packed for a leaf type, but are so sweet and delicious any salad or dish!

California Early is an excellent planting garlic variety that produces bulbs great for culinary use and is an early season garlic harvest! This variety is likely the most commonly grown variety in the U.S., and for good reason. It is a medium, easy to grow softneck, with a nice mild flavor and excellent storage ability. Cal-Early is one of our "work-horse" varieties we depend on, year after year, for fresh market and garlic braiding. The skins are a nice off-white with a purple blush and it produces 10-16 cloves per head.

Bobcat is a high producing fresh-market variety that has long storage life. Excellent flavor and good resistance to disease. Due to its high yield potential, Bobcat is suitable for coleslaw production.

Georgian Fire garlic is a certified, farm favorite with a stunning flavor and cloves! This garlic variety has the classic garlic porcelain sheen and flavor. The Georgian Fire variety is the beauty queen of the garlic world. Its cloves grow large and average about 6 to 8 per bulb. This garlic can be eaten raw as they have a pleasantly hot flavor. Roasting really brings out the flavor of Georgian Fire! Porcelain hardneck type. Approximately 10 garlic bulbs per pound.

The Purple Glazer is an excellent purple striped garlic. This amazing variety hails from the Republic of Georgia. Purple Glazer produces fat white cloves with deep purple streaks. The Purple Glazer has a strong flavor with no heat and a very minimal aftertaste.

The German Extra Hardy garlic is a prolific producer of long rooted garlic that can store in the ground throughout winter. This variety has pale white skin with dark red cloves. The German Extra Hardy has a strong raw flavor and high sugar content, making it one of the very best for roasting. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb.

The Blush Butter Cos Lettuce is a very popular and tasty butterhead variety with beautiful pink blushing and cos qualities. This lettuce has a good, sweet flavor with dense, buttery sausaged leaves. This variety is most known for its easy to remove leaves without any tearing or bruising.

The Orange Dream cauliflower performs like a dream in outdoor and greenhouse growing conditions. This cauliflower is a medium-large plant. Orange Dream is a pastel orange cauliflower that exhibits great tolerance to heat and stress.

The Montana Giant garlic has a full and robust taste that sets it apart from other garlics. It can pack a punch of high heat that quickly melts away. Montana Giant is a hardneck Rocambole that produces large cloves that are easy to peel and great to cook with. Averages 5-7 cloves per bulb.

The Noble Giant is an old heirloom that was an All-America Selections Winner in 1933. This spinach variety produces huge, dark green leaves with a very delicious flavor. This spinach is great in salads, cooked, canned or frozen. The Noble Giant is slow to bolt and is very easy to grow, making it perfect the perfect spinach for the home gardener!

The Sweet Valentine Lettuce is a beautiful bronze-red variety that turns apple-green in the center, making it look and taste sweet! This lettuce starts out as a head lettuce before forming a looseleaf romaine excel. Sweet Valentine holds long into the heat without bolting and is one of the sweetest lettuces around.

Chesnok Red garlic is one of the best baking garlic's available! This variety is a fantastic garlic that holds its shape and flavor well when cooked. Its stores well. Chesnok Red is regarded by some as the best all around garlic variety as it has a very beautiful red color.

California Late is the most commonly used garlic in the United States. This variety produces large bulbs with 12-16 good size cloves. California Late is more on the hot side with a classic garlic flavor. California Late is later maturing than California Early, as it ripens in July. It stores for about 8-12 months. California Late is a really great all around use garlic that is also excellent for baking.

Watermelon radish is a striking and flavorful root vegetable that adds both color and variety to the garden. Known for its vibrant pink to red interior, which contrasts with its pale greenish-white skin, this radish variety is a favorite among gardeners looking for something unique. Watermelon radishes are cool-season crops, thriving in the early spring or fall when temperatures are mild. They prefer well-drained, loose soil and require consistent moisture to grow to their full potential. The plants develop large, round roots that can reach up to 4 inches in diameter, and their slightly peppery flavor becomes milder and sweeter when grown to full maturity. Watermelon radishes grow best when spaced 2-3 inches apart to allow room for their large roots. They are relatively easy to grow, with a quick turnaround from planting to harvest—usually around 50 to 70 days. Besides their stunning appearance, watermelon radishes are versatile in the kitchen, perfect for salads, pickling, or as a crunchy garnish. Their unique beauty and crisp, mildly spicy flavor make them a showstopper in any home garden.