My Planting Calendar

What to plant in October in zone 6

USDA zone 6 has winter lows of -10 to 0°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 15 and first fall frost around Oct 15, roughly 185 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 6 (last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 15). 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 6: planting activity through the year

5
29
65
90
58
11
24
34
8
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 15 – Oct 15
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 (90).

For fall and winter harvests (2)

Sowings counted back from zone 6'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 19 – Nov 5Opens Oct 19
GarlicPlant in fall (after first frost)Oct 26 – Nov 12Opens Oct 26

Harvesting in October

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

Cucumber · Sep 1 – Oct 8Broccoli · Sep 4 – Oct 16Cauliflower · Sep 4 – Oct 21Cabbage · Sep 4 – Oct 31Bush Bean · Sep 8 – Oct 5Kale · Sep 8 – Oct 10Lettuce · Sep 9 – Oct 26Brussels Sprouts · Sep 13 – Oct 30Bok Choy / Pak Choi · Sep 14 – Oct 16Mizuna · Sep 14 – Oct 11Swiss Chard · Sep 15 – Oct 12Napa Cabbage · Sep 15 – Oct 27Mustard Greens · Sep 16 – Oct 18Fennel (Bulb) · Sep 16 – Oct 28Cilantro / Coriander · Sep 17 – Oct 29Carrot · Sep 18 – Oct 25Radicchio · Sep 18 – Nov 14Dill · Sep 19 – Oct 26Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Sep 19 – Oct 26Pea · Sep 20 – Oct 22Collard Greens · Sep 20 – Oct 27Tatsoi · Sep 21 – Oct 23Beet · Sep 22 – Oct 29Radish · Sep 22 – Oct 17Spinach · Sep 23 – Oct 18Arugula · Sep 23 – Oct 20Kohlrabi · Sep 24 – Oct 26Mache (Corn Salad) · Sep 24 – Oct 26Turnip · Sep 26 – Nov 2Chervil · Sep 26 – Nov 2Rutabaga · Sep 27 – Oct 24Borage · Oct 4 – Nov 10Parsley · Oct 5 – Nov 11Green Onion / Scallion · Oct 9 – Nov 15Watercress · Oct 13 – Nov 9Endive & Escarole · Oct 20 – Nov 21Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Oct 24 – Nov 25

After the first frost: October garden jobs in zone 6

  1. The average first frost (October 15) 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 26 – Nov 12): 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 6 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 6?

The typical last spring frost is around Apr 15 and the first fall frost around Oct 15. 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 6 in October?

From plantings made on time: cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bush bean, kale, lettuce, brussels sprouts, bok choy / pak choi, mizuna.

October in states with land in zone 6

AlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyMaineMarylandMassachusetts

Zone 6 in other months

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberNovemberZone 6 overview →

What to plant in October in other zones

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 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.