My Planting Calendar

What to plant in October in zone 5

USDA zone 5 has winter lows of -20 to -10°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 30 and first fall frost around Oct 5, roughly 160 frost-free days. October is the "after the first frost" there.

2 crops have a sowing or planting window this month: shallot, garlic.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 5 (last frost Apr 30, first frost Oct 5). 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: 37

Zone 5: planting activity through the year

0
18
53
76
69
28
35
28
1
2
1
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 30 – Oct 5
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 April (76).

For fall and winter harvests (2)

Sowings counted back from zone 5'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)Oct 9 – Oct 26Oct 9 – Oct 26
GarlicPlant in fall (after first frost)Oct 16 – Nov 2Opens Oct 16

Harvesting in October

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

Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Aug 12 – Oct 11Peanut · Aug 15 – Oct 4Broccoli · Aug 25 – Oct 6Cauliflower · Aug 25 – Oct 11Cabbage · Aug 25 – Oct 21Lettuce · Aug 30 – Oct 16Brussels Sprouts · Sep 3 – Oct 20Bok Choy / Pak Choi · Sep 4 – Oct 6Mizuna · Sep 4 – Oct 1Swiss Chard · Sep 5 – Oct 2Napa Cabbage · Sep 5 – Oct 17Mustard Greens · Sep 6 – Oct 8Fennel (Bulb) · Sep 6 – Oct 18Cilantro / Coriander · Sep 7 – Oct 19Carrot · Sep 8 – Oct 15Radicchio · Sep 8 – Nov 4Dill · Sep 9 – Oct 16Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Sep 9 – Oct 16Pea · Sep 10 – Oct 12Collard Greens · Sep 10 – Oct 17Tatsoi · Sep 11 – Oct 13Chayote · Sep 11 – Oct 11Beet · Sep 12 – Oct 19Radish · Sep 12 – Oct 7Spinach · Sep 13 – Oct 8Arugula · Sep 13 – Oct 10Kohlrabi · Sep 14 – Oct 16Mache (Corn Salad) · Sep 14 – Oct 16Turnip · Sep 16 – Oct 23Chervil · Sep 16 – Oct 23Rutabaga · Sep 17 – Oct 14Borage · Sep 24 – Oct 31Parsley · Sep 25 – Nov 1Green Onion / Scallion · Sep 29 – Nov 5Watercress · Oct 3 – Oct 30Endive & Escarole · Oct 10 – Nov 11Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Oct 14 – Nov 15

After the first frost: October garden jobs in zone 5

  1. The average first frost (October 5) 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 16 – Nov 2): 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 5 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 5?

The typical last spring frost is around Apr 30 and the first fall frost around Oct 5. 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 5 in October?

From plantings made on time: luffa (loofah gourd), peanut, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, brussels sprouts, bok choy / pak choi, mizuna, swiss chard.

October in states with land in zone 5

AlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichigan

Zone 5 in other months

FebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberNovemberZone 5 overview →

What to plant in October in other zones

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 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.