What to plant in October in zone 9
USDA zone 9 has winter lows of 20 to 30°F, a typical last spring frost around Feb 20 and first fall frost around Nov 30, roughly 280 frost-free days. October is the "fall garden season" there.
20 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including beet, cilantro / coriander, bok choy / pak choi, borage, dill, fava bean (broad bean) - and 12 of those windows close during October.
Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 9 (last frost Feb 20, first frost Nov 30). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 9: planting activity through the year
Last chance in October
Beet (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 5) · Cilantro / Coriander (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 5) · Bok Choy / Pak Choi (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Borage (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Dill (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Fava Bean (Broad Bean) (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Green Onion / Scallion (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Kohlrabi (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Lettuce (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Mache (Corn Salad) (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Mizuna (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12) · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) (sow for a fall crop, by Oct 12)
For fall and winter harvests (20)
Sowings counted back from zone 9'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beet | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 18 – Oct 5 | Last chance - ends Oct 5 |
| Cilantro / Coriander | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 18 – Oct 5 | Last chance - ends Oct 5 |
| Bok Choy / Pak Choi | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Borage | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Dill | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Fava Bean (Broad Bean) | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Green Onion / Scallion | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Kohlrabi | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Lettuce | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Mache (Corn Salad) | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Mizuna | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Rapini (Broccoli Raab) | Sow for a fall crop | Sep 25 – Oct 12 | Last chance - ends Oct 12 |
| Chervil | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 2 – Oct 19 | Oct 2 – Oct 19 |
| Mustard Greens | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 2 – Oct 19 | Oct 2 – Oct 19 |
| Spinach | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 2 – Oct 19 | Oct 2 – Oct 19 |
| Tatsoi | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 2 – Oct 19 | Oct 2 – Oct 19 |
| Turnip | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 2 – Oct 19 | Oct 2 – Oct 19 |
| Arugula | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 9 – Oct 26 | Oct 9 – Oct 26 |
| Watercress | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 9 – Oct 26 | Oct 9 – Oct 26 |
| Radish | Sow for a fall crop | Oct 16 – Nov 2 | Opens Oct 16 |
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 9
- The average first frost is November 30, about 7 weeks away. Pick tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans) before it, or cover them on cold nights.
- Still time to sow or plant: beet, cilantro / coriander, bok choy / pak choi, borage, dill, fava bean (broad bean). 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 9 in October?
20 crops have a window in October: beet, cilantro / coriander, bok choy / pak choi, borage, dill, fava bean (broad bean), green onion / scallion, kohlrabi, lettuce, mache (corn salad) and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
When are the last and first frost in zone 9?
The typical last spring frost is around Feb 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 30. 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 9 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 9
Zone 9 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.