It's not too late for a fall garden! Many plants do best when the average nighttime temperature is between 40 and 50 degrees. Since we're having an unseasonably warm autumn, now is a great time to get out your gardening tools. Here are some plants that do well in mid-October:
trees & shrubs
September through November is the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs. It gives them enough time to establish their roots before the ground freezes.
garlic
Cloves can be planted the second week of October.
lily bulbs
True lily bulbs (not daylilies) can be planted mid to late October and will flower in July.
pansies & violas
Early spring and late fall are the ideal time to plant Pansies and Violas in Ohio.
grass seed
Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Rye, and Tall Fescue can be planted Labor Day through mid-October.
ornamental kale & ornamental cabbage
Ornamental kale's color will intensify after the first few frosts. Both plants should be in full sun.
cold weather veggies
Squash, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, beets, turnips, radishes, carrots, and a variety of lettuce can be cultivated through the cold season. Onions and shallots are also easy to grow and require little maintenance through the winter.
northern sea oats
This ornamental grass turns purple-brown by late summer. It's a lovely foliage to give your landscaping life through the winter months. Northern sea oats grow best in partial shade.
nippon daisy
The Nippon Daisy blooms late in the season and both the leaves and flowers are frost tolerant. They will keep their color until a hard freeze. Nippon Daisies need full sun and well-drained soil.
sedum
Sedums are a hardy, low maintenance plant that come in a variety of sizes and colors. They're very drought tolerant and their flowers bloom in late summer through fall.