What to Plant in October
Nashville, TN · Zone 7a
Last frost: Apr 1
Frost-free days: 214
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
Garlic
Lettuce
Peas
Radish
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Start Indoors 2
Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.
Spinach
Sep 9 – Oct 8
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Brussels Sprouts
Oct 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Transplant 3
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
Swiss Chard
Feb 1 – Oct 8
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Lettuce
Sep 24 – Oct 16
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Spinach
Oct 9 – Nov 8
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Direct Sow 6
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Garlic
Jan 1 – Oct 8
9 per sq ft
180–240 days
Beet
Jan 24 – Oct 8
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Turnip
Feb 1 – Nov 8
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Peas
Sep 9 – Oct 8
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Cilantro
Sep 24 – Oct 23
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Radish
Sep 24 – Oct 31
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
October Gardening Tips
- Start Spinach, Brussels Sprouts indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
- Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard 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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