What to plant in October
What to start indoors, plant or sow outside, and harvest in October, for every hardiness zone from 3a to 10b. Find your zone, or enter your ZIP code for dates made for exactly where you live.
October in each zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Harvest (food crops) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | — | Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Carrot, Parsley, Collard greens, Leeks, Parsnip, Horseradish, Chives, Thyme, Sage, Mâche, Tatsoi, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Meyer lemon |
| Zone 3b | — | — | Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Carrot, Parsley, Collard greens, Leeks, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Horseradish, Chives, Thyme, Sage, Mâche, Tatsoi, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Meyer lemon |
| Zone 4a | — | Garlic, Tulip | Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Beet, Swiss chard, Parsley, Collard greens, Mustard greens, Leeks, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Turnip, Scallions, Horseradish, Chives, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mâche, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Daikon radish, Celeriac, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Meyer lemon, Lovage, Garlic chives |
| Zone 4b | — | Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye | Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Swiss chard, Cilantro, Parsley, Arugula, Bok choy, Collard greens, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Leeks, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Turnip, Scallions, Horseradish, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Lemon balm, Fennel, Tarragon, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Celeriac, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Meyer lemon, Catnip, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives |
| Zone 5a | — | Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye | Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Peas, Swiss chard, Cilantro, Parsley, Arugula, Bok choy, Collard greens, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Leeks, Rutabaga, Turnip, Celery, Scallions, Snap peas, Horseradish, Strawberry, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Lemon balm, Fennel, Tarragon, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Meyer lemon, Marjoram, Catnip, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives |
| Zone 5b | — | Garlic, Mâche, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye | Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Spinach, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Peas, Swiss chard, Cannabis auto, Cannabis regular, Cilantro, Parsley, Arugula, Bok choy, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Rutabaga, Turnip, Scallions, Snap peas, Horseradish, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Lemon balm, Fennel, Cherry tomato, Hot pepper, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Malabar spinach, Cucamelon, Raspberry, Meyer lemon, Thai basil, Lemongrass, Stevia, Marjoram, Catnip, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives |
| Zone 6a | — | Garlic, Mâche, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye | Lettuce, Spinach, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Peas, Swiss chard, Cannabis auto, Cannabis regular, Cilantro, Parsley, Arugula, Bok choy, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Rutabaga, Turnip, Scallions, Snap peas, Horseradish, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Lemon balm, Fennel, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Raspberry, Meyer lemon, Marjoram, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives |
| Zone 6b | — | Garlic, Mâche, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye | Lettuce, Spinach, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Peas, Swiss chard, Cannabis auto, Cannabis regular, Cilantro, Parsley, Arugula, Bok choy, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Rutabaga, Turnip, Scallions, Snap peas, Horseradish, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Lemon balm, Fennel, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Raspberry, Meyer lemon, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives |
| Zone 7a | — | Radish, Garlic, Mâche, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye, Hairy vetch | Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Beet, Radish, Peas, Swiss chard, Cannabis auto, Cannabis regular, Cilantro, Arugula, Bok choy, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Turnip, Scallions, Snap peas, Chives, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Fennel, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mizuna, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Raspberry, Grape, Fig, Meyer lemon, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives |
| Zone 7b | — | Spinach, Kale, Radish, Garlic, Collard greens, Mustard greens, Mâche, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye, Hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas | Lettuce, Cauliflower, Radish, Peas, Cannabis auto, Cilantro, Arugula, Bok choy, Kohlrabi, Snap peas, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Fennel, Napa cabbage, Broccoli raab, Raspberry, Grape, Fig, Meyer lemon, Apple tree, Chervil |
| Zone 8a | — | Spinach, Kale, Radish, Arugula, Collard greens, Mustard greens, Mâche, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Tulip, Daffodil, Cereal rye, Hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas | Peas, Cannabis auto, Snap peas, Rosemary, Raspberry, Grape, Fig, Meyer lemon, Apple tree |
| Zone 8b | — | Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Beet, Radish, Swiss chard, Cilantro, Arugula, Bok choy, Collard greens, Mustard greens, Turnip, Mâche, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Broccoli raab, Daffodil, Pansy / viola, Crimson clover, Cereal rye, Hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas | Raspberry, Grape, Fig, Apple tree, Pear tree |
| Zone 9a | — | Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Swiss chard, Cilantro, Arugula, Bok choy, Collard greens, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Turnip, Scallions, Calendula, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Chervil, Pansy / viola, Crimson clover, Oats, Cereal rye, Hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas | Raspberry, Grape, Fig, Apple tree, Pear tree |
| Zone 9b | — | Lettuce, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Peas, Swiss chard, Cilantro, Arugula, Bok choy, Collard greens, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Turnip, Scallions, Calendula, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Chervil, Pansy / viola, Crimson clover, Oats, Hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas | Grape, Fig, Apple tree, Pear tree |
| Zone 10a | Kale, Collard greens | Lettuce, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Peas, Swiss chard, Cilantro, Bok choy, Kohlrabi, Rutabaga, Turnip, Scallions, Snap peas, Calendula, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Chervil, Pansy / viola, Crimson clover, Oats | Fig, Apple tree, Pear tree |
| Zone 10b | Kale, Collard greens | Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Peas, Kohlrabi, Rutabaga, Scallions, Snap peas, Fennel, Calendula, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Chervil, Oats, White clover | Fig, Apple tree, Pear tree |
These follow each zone's average frost dates, and include fall crops. Crops planted in fall for next year (garlic, spring bulbs) show under planting.
Tips for October
- Cure winter squash before storing it. Cut squash with a few inches of stem, and keep it somewhere warm (about 80°F) for a week or two, until the skin is too hard to dent with a fingernail. Then store it cool and dry, around 50 to 55°F. Cured butternuts keep for months.
- Pick what frost will ruin first. Before a hard freeze, harvest the tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers, and basil: frost turns them to mush. Kale, carrots, leeks, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts can stay out, and many taste sweeter after a frost.
- Use aged or composted manure. Fresh manure can burn plants and can carry germs like E. coli. Use it composted, or spread fresh manure in fall so it has months to break down before spring planting. Never use dog or cat waste.
- Store potatoes cool and dark. Dig them two weeks after the vines die back, so the skins toughen, and let them dry for a week or two out of the sun. Then keep them dark, cool, and dry: light turns them green and bitter.
For a garden in the middle of the country (around zone 6). Colder places run a few weeks behind, warmer ones ahead.