Fall · September 8, 2026

Orlando, Florida

Florida Peninsula

Now

28°C · Partly cloudy

Today

31° / 24°

Soil 6 cm

28°C

First frost

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Gardening in Orlando

AI field guide · refreshed weekly

Orlando Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Transition Week

Zone 10a means you're frost-free until late December (114 days away). Soil at 28°C is still warm enough for heat-loving crops, but cooling into the sweet spot for fall vegetables. You've got 114 days to grow cool-season crops before your average first frost around Dec 31—plenty of time for leafy greens, brassicas, and root vegetables to mature.

Sow outdoors now

  • Lettuce & Salad Greens

    Direct sow 'Buttercrunch', 'Jericho', or 'Salvius' now; they'll germinate in warm soil and mature as temps drop. Succession-sow every 2–3 weeks through November for continuous harvest.

  • Spinach

    Sow 'Space' or 'Bloomsdale' now; germinates reliably in 28°C soil and thrives in Orlando's mild fall. Thin to 10 cm (4 in) apart.

  • Arugula

    Fast-growing (30–40 days), perfect for fall. Sow 'Roquette' or 'Astro' directly; thin to 15 cm (6 in). Tolerates light shade.

  • Radish

    Sow 'Cherry Belle' or 'French Breakfast' for quick harvests in 25–30 days. Pair with slower crops to maximize bed space.

  • Kale

    Direct sow 'Lacinato', 'Winterbor', or 'Dinosaur' now; they sweeten after light frost and produce through winter. Thin to 30 cm (12 in).

Start indoors now

  • Broccoli & Cauliflower

    Start 'Calabrese', 'Arcadia' broccoli or 'Graffiti' cauliflower indoors now; transplant in 4–5 weeks (mid-October) for November harvest. Needs 6–8 weeks total to head.

  • Cabbage

    Sow 'Gonzales' (mini), 'Savoy Perfection', or 'Red Acre' indoors; transplant in 5 weeks for heads by December. Succession-sow now and again in 2 weeks.

  • Onions & Leeks

    Start 'Texas 1015' onions or 'Varna' leeks indoors for transplant in October; they'll establish roots before winter dormancy and bulk up in spring.

Harvest now

  • Okra

    Pick pods when 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, every 2–3 days. Plants slow in late September but still productive; pull by November.

  • Eggplant

    Harvest 'Black Beauty' or 'Ichiban' while glossy and firm; production drops as temps fall but continues through October.

  • Peppers

    Pick bell and hot peppers at any stage; they'll ripen on the plant or off it. Expect slower production as days shorten.

Tasks this week

  • Prepare beds: amend with 5 cm (2 in) compost, work in slow-release fertilizer. Soil is warm and moist enough for good decomposition.
  • Water deeply after sowing; rain forecast mid-week will help, but hand-water if needed—sandy Orlando soil drains fast.
  • Mulch fall plantings with 5 cm (2 in) straw to retain moisture and moderate soil temp as it cools.
  • Scout for spider mites and whiteflies on peppers and eggplant; spray neem oil early morning if populations spike.
  • Thin seedlings from direct sowing by day 10–14 to avoid crowding and fungal issues in humid fall weather.

Watch out for

  • Afternoon thunderstorms (Sept 10–13 forecast) can waterlog sandy beds—ensure drainage is clear and avoid overwatering.
  • Fungal diseases (powdery mildew, leaf spot) thrive in Orlando's humidity; space plants well, water at soil level, and remove lower leaves on dense crops.
  • Grasshoppers and armyworms are active in early fall—monitor new seedlings and use row cover if populations appear.

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