What to plant in October — zone 10a
Zone 10a averages its last spring frost around January 30 and its first fall frost around December 25. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Plan & order
- Inventory and order seedaround Oct 10
Sort what you already have, toss anything over 3 years old, and order early while varieties are in stock.
- Map this year's bedsaround Oct 17
Rotate families off last year's ground — nightshades, brassicas and cucurbits each move to a new bed.
- Soil testaround Oct 24
A $20 test now tells you what to amend before planting instead of guessing all season.
Dormant care
- Sharpen and oil toolsaround Oct 31
Clean, sharpen and oil blades while there's time — dull tools bruise plants and slow you down.
Direct sow for fall
- Beetaround Oct 3
Fall beet window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Dillaround Oct 3
Fall dill window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Spinacharound Oct 15
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Lettucearound Oct 15
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Parsleyaround Oct 16
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Cilantroaround Oct 20
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Bush beanaround Oct 21
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
- Peaaround Oct 26
Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Carrotaround Oct 27
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy — light freezes sweeten it.
- Beetaround Oct 31
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Dillaround Oct 31
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
Start indoors for fall
- Kalearound Oct 14
Seedlings need 4 weeks before they go out for a fall harvest.
Turn this into your own calendar
Get the full 12-month version for your exact ZIP — every sowing, transplant, and harvest window, with reminders you can add to your calendar. Free, no account needed to try.