What to Plant in October — USDA Zone 5a

Here's everything you can start, transplant, sow, and harvest in October in USDA Zone 5a. This zone has an average last spring frost around April 25 and first fall frost around October 8, with a growing season of approximately 166 days.

There are 38 planting activities for October in Zone 5a.

Zone 5a Moderate season

166 days

❄

Last Spring Frost April 25

➔ 166 growing days ➔

❄

First Fall Frost October 8

Harvest in October

Plant	Type	Days to Maturity
Alliums	Flower	28–42 days
Alpine Strawberries	Fruit	90–180 days
Anise	Herb	90–120 days
Bee Balm	Herb	90–120 days
Begonias	Flower	70–90 days
Belgian Endive	Vegetable	110–150 days
Black-eyed Susan	Flower	60–80 days
Celosia	Flower	60–90 days
Coreopsis	Flower	60–80 days
Cosmos	Flower	60–90 days
Cumin	Herb	100–120 days
Dahlias	Flower	70–120 days
Daylily	Flower	60–90 days
Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)	Flower	70–90 days
Feverfew	Herb	90–120 days
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)	Flower	70–100 days
Geraniums	Flower	70–100 days
Gladiolus	Flower	70–100 days
Horseradish	Vegetable	120–180 days
Hostas	Flower	60–90 days
Hot Peppers	Vegetable	70–120 days
Hydrangeas	Flower	90–150 days
Impatiens	Flower	60–75 days
Leeks	Vegetable	90–150 days
Lilies	Flower	70–120 days
Nasturtium	Flower	55–65 days
Petunia	Flower	70–90 days
Phlox	Flower	80–110 days
Roses	Flower	90–180 days
Salvia	Flower	70–90 days
Sedum (Stonecrop)	Flower	60–90 days
Strawberries	Fruit	90–365 days
Sunchoke	Vegetable	110–150 days
Sunflower	Flower	70–100 days
Valerian	Herb	120–180 days
Vinca (Annual)	Flower	70–90 days
Yarrow	Flower	60–90 days
Zinnia	Flower	60–70 days

Plant varieties + growing data

Soil survey + temperature data

Drought monitoring

Household-consumption benchmarks

Derived

Other

Frost dates

Modeling

Precipitation + climate normals

Curated

Pest + disease pressure

Local extension offices

Daylight hours + sun data

Blog