What to Plant in October
Memphis, TN · Zone 7b
Last frost: Mar 20
Frost-free days: 235
First frost is coming — protect remaining tender crops and finish fall plantings. Plant garlic for next year. Focus on storage crops and season extension.
October at a Glance
Indoor
Transplant
Direct Sow
1
5
10
15
20
25
Cilantro
Beet
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
Garlic
Kale
Lettuce
Onion
Peas
Radish
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Start Indoors 3
Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.
Plant now
Spinach
Sep 9 – Oct 16
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Brussels Sprouts
Sep 24 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Later this month
Onion
Oct 24 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Transplant 5
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
Kale
Aug 9 – Oct 8
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Swiss Chard
Aug 9 – Oct 16
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Cauliflower
Sep 24 – Oct 8
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Lettuce
Oct 1–31
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Spinach
Oct 9 – Nov 15
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Direct Sow 6
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Garlic
Jan 1 – Oct 16
9 per sq ft
180–240 days
Beet
Aug 9 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Turnip
Aug 9 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Peas
Sep 24 – Oct 23
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Cilantro
Oct 1–31
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Radish
Oct 1 – Nov 8
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
October Gardening Tips
- Start Spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Onion indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
- Lettuce, Kale, Spinach can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
- Direct sow Peas, Garlic, Beet straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
- Clean up spent crops to reduce overwintering pest and disease pressure.
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