What to plant in October in zone 8
USDA zone 8 has winter lows of 10 to 20°F, a typical last spring frost around Mar 20 and first fall frost around Nov 5, roughly 230 frost-free days. October is the "fall garden season" there.
3 crops have a sowing or planting window this month: arugula, watercress, radish - and 3 of those windows close during October.
Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 8 (last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 8: planting activity through the year
Last chance in October
Arugula (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 1) · Watercress (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 1) · Radish (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 8)
For fall and winter harvests (3)
Sowings counted back from zone 8's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 14 – Oct 1 | Last chance - ends Oct 1 |
| Watercress | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 14 – Oct 1 | Last chance - ends Oct 1 |
| Radish | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 21 – Oct 8 | Last chance - ends Oct 8 |
Harvesting in October
First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.
Fall garden season: October garden jobs in zone 8
- The average first frost is November 5, about 3 weeks away. Pick tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans) before it, or cover them on cold nights.
- Still time to sow or plant: arugula, watercress, radish. Fast greens and radishes are the safest bets this late.
- Row cover buys 4-6°F of frost protection and weeks of extra harvest - see season extension.
- Pull finished crops and sow a cover crop (cereal rye or crimson clover) into empty beds before the soil gets cold.
Questions gardeners ask
What can I plant in zone 8 in October?
3 crops have a window in October: arugula, watercress, radish. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
When are the last and first frost in zone 8?
The typical last spring frost is around Mar 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 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 8 in October?
From plantings made on time: zucchini / summer squash, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bush bean, kale, lettuce, brussels sprouts, bok choy / pak choi.
October in states with land in zone 8
Zone 8 in other months
What to plant in October in other zones
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.