What to Plant in October

Seattle, WA · Zone 8b

Last frost: Mar 8 Frost-free days: 257

Enjoy the cooler growing weather. Direct sow greens, root vegetables, and cover crops. Plant garlic and overwintering onions for next spring.

October at a Glance

Indoor Transplant Direct Sow
1 5 10 15 20 25
Chives
Mint
Brussels Sprouts
Leek
Onion
Radish
Spinach
Strawberry
Turnip

Start Indoors 4

Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.

Plant now

Chives
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Mint
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days

Later this month

Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Oct 24 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–110 days

Transplant 6

Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.

Plant now

Chives
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Mint
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Spinach
Spinach
Sep 1 – Oct 31
9 per sq ft 35–50 days
Leek
Leek
Oct 1 – Nov 8
4 per sq ft 90–150 days

Later this month

Onion
Onion
Oct 24 – Nov 15
9 per sq ft 100–120 days

Direct Sow 2

Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.

Turnip
Turnip
Feb 15 – Oct 16
9 per sq ft 30–60 days
Radish
Radish
Mar 9 – Oct 8
16 per sq ft 22–30 days

October Gardening Tips

  • Start Strawberry, Chives, Mint indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
  • Spinach, Strawberry, Chives can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
  • Direct sow Radish, Turnip straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
  • Clean up spent crops to reduce overwintering pest and disease pressure.

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