What to Plant in October
Washington, DC · Zone 7a
Last frost: Apr 1
Frost-free days: 218
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
Radish
Turnip
Direct Sow 3
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Turnip
Feb 22 – Oct 16
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Cilantro
Sep 16 – Oct 8
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Radish
Sep 16 – Oct 23
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
October Gardening Tips
- Direct sow Radish, Turnip, Cilantro straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
- Clean up spent crops to reduce overwintering pest and disease pressure.
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