Lowcountry Almanac: October 2026
Golden light, cooler breezes and a little moonlit magic invite the Lowcountry to slow down and look up.
By Bailey Gilliam
October is when fall finally begins to feel at home in the Lowcountry. Mornings turn cooler, humidity loosens its grip, and golden light stretches across marsh grass beginning to take on its autumn glow. Gardens get a second wind, evenings arrive earlier, and suddenly sitting outside sounds like a good idea again. With guidance from the 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac and Grow Great Vegetables South Carolina, here’s what to watch for, plant and enjoy this October.
Weather Predictions
Fall should have a little more fall in it this year. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a cooler and drier-than-normal September and October for the Atlantic Corridor, with temperatures averaging about 1 degree below normal and rainfall running about an inch below normal.
Average temperature: 67 degrees (1 degree below average)
Precipitation: 3 inches (1 inch below average)
Forecast by week:
- Oct. 1-14: Periods of rain, then sunny; cool
- Oct. 15-20: Rain; cool
- Oct. 21-28: Sunny; milder
- Oct. 29-31: Showers, then sunny; warm
Sunrise & Sunset
October takes nearly an hour of daylight with it as the month goes by. Sunrises arrive later, sunsets slip earlier, and those long Lowcountry evenings begin to feel decidedly more autumnal.
Sunrise: About 7:17 a.m. on Oct. 1 to 7:39 a.m. on Oct. 31
Sunset: About 7:07 p.m. on Oct. 1 to 6:33 p.m. on Oct. 31
Astronomical Events
October has plenty happening overhead, from two meteor showers to one of the most evocatively named full moons of the year.
- Oct. 3: The moon reaches its third-quarter phase, beginning a stretch of darker evening skies as it wanes toward the new moon.
- Oct. 8: Look north after nightfall for the peak of the Draconid meteor shower.
- Oct. 10: The new moon arrives at 11:50 a.m.
- Oct. 21-22: The Orionid meteor shower peaks, producing swift meteors from debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
- Oct. 26: October’s full Hunter’s Moon reaches its peak at about 12:11 a.m.
Tides & Currents
Stay in sync with the rhythms of the Lowcountry coast. Follow the latest tide and current predictions from NOAA, and plan your days accordingly.
In the Garden
Prep
Clear out spent summer plants, remove weeds and diseased material, and refresh beds for cool-season crops. Keep an eye on moisture as rainfall becomes less reliable, and have row covers ready for tender plants when the first truly chilly nights arrive. Fall also is a good time to add mulch around established beds and shrubs, but keep it a few inches away from stems and trunks.
Plant
There’s still plenty of time to put something new in the ground. Plant collards, kale, lettuce, mustard greens and garden peas, along with Brussels sprout transplants early in the month. Mustard and Brussels sprouts should be planted by midmonth, while collards and kale can go in through October, lettuce into early November and peas through November. Plant garlic cloves this month, pointed ends up, in well-drained soil, for harvest next year. It’s also prime time for onions and annual strawberries, which can establish strong roots now for spring fruit.
Harvest
October is one of those wonderful Lowcountry months when summer and fall can overlap in the garden. Depending on planting dates and conditions, gardens may still produce okra, peppers, eggplant and late tomatoes while fall crops and leafy greens begin joining the harvest. Sweet potatoes, pumpkins and winter squash bring the season firmly into fall.
Best Days
October days are especially favorable for these particular activities:
- Go fishing: Oct. 10-26
- Harvest above-ground crops: Oct. 16-18
- Schedule dental care: Oct. 7-8
- Bake something: Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 30-31
