October is when Southwest Florida gardeners can finally start thinking seriously about the cool-season vegetable garden.

The summer heat makes many familiar vegetables difficult to grow well, but UF/IFAS planting calendars show that South Florida’s fall and winter windows open up a long list of possibilities.

Broccoli, beets, Brussels sprouts and celery all enter their South Florida planting windows in October.

Carrots can be planted from fall into spring, and cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage and Swiss chard are also good cool-season candidates.

October is also strawberry month in South Florida. UF/IFAS lists October as the outdoor planting window for strawberries in the southern part of the state.

Tomatoes are not finished either. South Florida’s supported-tomato planting window runs from late summer into winter, giving gardeners another chance after the punishing summer months.

Beans and winter squash also have broad South Florida fall and winter planting windows.

The basic site rules still matter: vegetables need plenty of sun, reliable water and soil that drains well.

Charlotte County gardeners should pay special attention to the sand. Local UF/IFAS guidance recommends improving sandy soil with compost or other organic matter so beds hold moisture and nutrients more effectively.

Starting small is fine. A few containers of lettuce, herbs or strawberries can be more successful than an oversized first garden.

And do not assume a national seed packet knows Southwest Florida. Use Florida planting dates rather than generic “spring” and “fall” directions written for colder climates.

The October takeaway: this is the beginning of the season many Southwest Florida gardeners have been waiting for all summer.