My Planting Calendar

What to plant in October in zone 4

USDA zone 4 has winter lows of -30 to -20°F, a typical last spring frost around May 10 and first fall frost around Sep 25, roughly 135 frost-free days. October is the "after the first frost" there.

2 crops have a sowing or planting window this month: shallot, garlic - and 1 of those windows close during October.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 4 (last frost May 10, first frost Sep 25). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

After the first frostSow or plant: 2Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 29

Zone 4: planting activity through the year

0
5
40
64
84
53
37
19
1
2
0
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: May 10 – Sep 25
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 2 have one in October; the busiest month is May (84).

Last chance in October

Shallot (plant in fall (after first frost), by Oct 16)

For fall and winter harvests (2)

Sowings counted back from zone 4's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
ShallotPlant in fall (after first frost)Sep 29 – Oct 16Last chance - ends Oct 16
GarlicPlant in fall (after first frost)Oct 6 – Oct 23Oct 6 – Oct 23

Harvesting in October

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Cauliflower · Aug 15 – Oct 1Cabbage · Aug 15 – Oct 11Lettuce · Aug 20 – Oct 6Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Aug 22 – Oct 21Brussels Sprouts · Aug 24 – Oct 10Peanut · Aug 25 – Oct 14Napa Cabbage · Aug 26 – Oct 7Fennel (Bulb) · Aug 27 – Oct 8Cilantro / Coriander · Aug 28 – Oct 9Carrot · Aug 29 – Oct 5Radicchio · Aug 29 – Oct 25Dill · Aug 30 – Oct 6Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Aug 30 – Oct 6Pea · Aug 31 – Oct 2Collard Greens · Aug 31 – Oct 7Tatsoi · Sep 1 – Oct 3Beet · Sep 2 – Oct 9Kohlrabi · Sep 4 – Oct 6Mache (Corn Salad) · Sep 4 – Oct 6Turnip · Sep 6 – Oct 13Chervil · Sep 6 – Oct 13Rutabaga · Sep 7 – Oct 4Borage · Sep 14 – Oct 21Parsley · Sep 15 – Oct 22Green Onion / Scallion · Sep 19 – Oct 26Chayote · Sep 21 – Oct 21Watercress · Sep 23 – Oct 20Endive & Escarole · Sep 30 – Nov 1Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Oct 4 – Nov 5

After the first frost: October garden jobs in zone 4

  1. The average first frost (September 25) has passed - pull frost-killed tender plants and compost the healthy ones; bin or burn anything that had blight or mildew.
  2. Plant garlic now (Oct 6 – Oct 23): single cloves, pointy end up, 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart, then mulch.
  3. Leave cold-hardy roots (carrots, parsnips, leeks) in the ground under a thick mulch and dig them as needed.
  4. Clean and oil tools, drain hoses, and note what worked this year while you still remember - it makes next year's plan far easier.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 4 in October?

2 crops have a window in October: shallot, garlic. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

When are the last and first frost in zone 4?

The typical last spring frost is around May 10 and the first fall frost around Sep 25. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.

What can I harvest in zone 4 in October?

From plantings made on time: cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, luffa (loofah gourd), brussels sprouts, peanut, napa cabbage, fennel (bulb), cilantro / coriander, carrot.

October in states with land in zone 4

AlaskaArizonaColoradoIdahoIowaMaineMichiganMinnesotaMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew MexicoNew York

Zone 4 in other months

FebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberZone 4 overview →

What to plant in October in other zones

Zone 3Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10All states →

Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.