October in Santa Cruz County is when temperatures finally start to moderate - but it's still warm, not truly "fall" in most areas. We might see our first rain, or we might stay bone dry until November. Tomatoes are still producing in warm microclimates, and you're definitely not done with summer crops yet.

This is a critical planting month for garlic, cool-season greens, and fall crops - but it's also still harvest season for many summer vegetables.

What October Weather Actually Looks Like

October is the beginning of the transition, not the arrival of fall:

Sunny mountain areas (Boulder Creek ridges, Ben Lomond chaparral): Still hitting 80s-90s many days, occasional cooler days
Under redwoods (Felton canyons, shaded areas): 70s-80s, more stable
Inland valleys (Scotts Valley, Soquel): High 70s to mid-80s
Coastal (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz): 60s-70s, very pleasant
Watsonville/Pajaro Valley: 70s-80s

We MIGHT get our first rain in October, but many years stay dry until November. Don't count on rain to water fall plantings - you're still irrigating.

Direct Seed These in October

Greens for Fall/Winter

Lettuce (all varieties - much easier germination than September!)
Arugula
Spinach
Mustard greens
Chard
Mizuna
Asian greens (bok choy, tatsoi)
Mâche (corn salad)

Root Vegetables

Radishes
Turnips
Carrots (early October better than late)
Beets (early October)

Legumes

Peas (snap and snow peas for winter/spring harvest)
Fava beans (THE month for favas!)

Herbs

Cilantro
Parsley
Dill

The Big One:

Garlic (This is THE traditional month for planting garlic)

Transplant These in October

Lettuce
Kale
Collards
Cabbage (early October)
Onions (from sets for spring harvest)
Strawberries (still good, though September was better)

What to Harvest in October

Still abundant:

Tomatoes (in warm microclimates, absolutely still producing!)
Peppers (slowing down but still going)
Eggplant (may still have some)
Late summer squash
Beans (if you succession planted)
Fall greens (lettuce, arugula, spinach from August/September)
Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, kale from July/August)
Root vegetables (carrots, beets, radishes)
Chard
Pumpkins and winter squash
Apples and persimmons

October Garden Tasks

Plant garlic (early to mid-October is ideal)
Plant fava beans (for nitrogen fixing or spring harvest)
Direct seed greens, peas, and root vegetables
Continue harvesting summer crops - many are still producing!
Pull only spent crops - if tomatoes are still flowering and fruiting, leave them
Add compost to beds before planting fall crops
Continue watering - October is often still dry
Watch for first rains but don't count on them yet
Plant cover crops in truly empty beds
Order bare-root trees for November-February planting
Clean up fallen fruit and diseased plants

The Garlic Deep Dive

October is garlic month in Santa Cruz County. Here's what you need to know:

When to plant: Early to mid-October is traditional. Some gardeners in warm microclimates wait until late October or early November to avoid planting in summer-warm soil.

What to plant:

Softneck varieties (like 'California Early', 'Inchelium Red', 'Nootka Rose') are best for our mild climate
Hardneck varieties can work but prefer colder winters

How to plant:

Break apart bulbs into individual cloves (do this close to planting time)
Plant pointy end up, 2 inches deep, 4-6 inches apart
Choose a bed that gets full sun
Mulch well
Water to establish, then water weekly if it doesn't rain

When to harvest: Next June or July

Microclimate-Specific Advice

Coastal (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz beaches, Live Oak): Perfect October planting weather - 60s-70s, mild. Your tomatoes may be winding down, but other gardeners inland are still in full production mode. Plant everything on this list. If we get October rains, you're set. If not, keep watering.

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Sunny Ridges/Chaparral (Boulder Creek mountains, Ben Lomond sunny exposures, Scotts Valley hills): Still warm (80s-90s on hot days), but cooling. Your tomatoes are absolutely still producing and will continue into November. Don't pull them! Plant cool-season crops - they'll establish now. October is when your big temperature swings moderate slightly. You can plant cool-season crops without needing to shade them as much.

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Under Redwoods (Felton canyons, Ben Lomond shaded areas, Scotts Valley valleys): 70s-80s, cooler and more stable. Excellent conditions for fall planting. Your shade is now an advantage - greens and brassicas love these conditions. You may retain more moisture than sunny areas, so watch for overwatering if rains start.

Inland Valleys (Soquel hills, inland Santa Cruz): High 70s to low 80s. Still pleasant and warm. Good conditions for fall planting. Summer crops may still be producing. Plant everything.

Watsonville/Pajaro Valley: 70s-80s, warm and agricultural. You have the longest season. Your tomatoes will produce well into November in good years. Plant fall crops - they'll thrive.

Common October Questions

Should I pull my tomato plants? Only if they're diseased or truly done. In warm microclimates (sunny mountain areas, Watsonville), tomatoes can produce through October and into November. Check them - if they're flowering and setting fruit, leave them alone!

Is it too late to plant broccoli? For transplants? Early October is okay, late October is pushing it. Broccoli needs warm fall days to develop heads. Focus on kale, collards, and greens instead if it's late October.

Can I plant garlic if the soil is still warm? Yes, but it's not ideal. Some gardeners in warm areas wait until late October or even early November. Garlic cloves can rot in warm, dry soil. Wait for temperatures to moderate or for the first rain.

What if it doesn't rain in October? Many years, it doesn't! Keep watering. Our dry season often extends through October. Don't count on rain to water your fall plantings. November is when rain typically becomes more reliable.

The October Reality

October feels like it should be fall, but it often isn't yet:

Temperatures are moderating but still warm
Summer crops (especially tomatoes) are often still producing in warm areas
Cool-season plantings are establishing but growing slowly
Rain might start, but probably not until late month or November
You're still watering, though less than summer

This is the "between" month - not summer, not quite fall.

Make October Work

October is your last reliable planting month for many crops. After this, day length and temperatures drop enough that growth slows significantly.

Priority plantings:

Garlic (don't skip this!)
Fava beans
Lettuce and greens (for winter salads)
Peas (for spring harvest)

Don't rush to clear:

Tomatoes (if still producing)
Peppers (if still producing)
Any summer crop that's healthy and fruiting

October is about managing the overlap - summer isn't over, fall hasn't fully arrived. Work with both seasons simultaneously.

What to Plant in Santa Cruz & the Bay Area in October