Zone 8a planting calendar

What to plant in October: zone 8a

Zone 8a averages its last spring frost around March 30 and its first fall frost around November 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.

Last frost: March 30

First frost: November 15

Winter lows: 10 to 15 °F

Zone 8a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Direct sow for fall

Cilantroaround Oct 1
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
Radisharound Oct 13
Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.
Spinacharound Oct 17
Counts back 40 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy: light freezes sweeten it.
Radisharound Oct 27
Counts back 30 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy: light freezes sweeten it.

Transplant for fall

Kalearound Oct 2
Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 11-15.

Sow cover crop

Cover crop (cereal rye + crimson clover)around Oct 16
Sown a month before frost it germinates, holds your soil all winter, and feeds it in spring.

Plant to overwinter

Onionaround Oct 18
In zone 7+ onion sets planted before frost overwinter for an early summer bulb.

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