Zone 8b planting calendar

What to plant in October: zone 8b

Zone 8b averages its last spring frost around March 20 and its first fall frost around November 25. 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 20

First frost: November 25

Winter lows: 15 to 20 °F

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

Direct sow for fall

Beetaround Oct 1
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
Dillaround Oct 1
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.
Spinacharound Oct 6
Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
Lettucearound Oct 6
Counts back 50 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
Radisharound Oct 9
Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.
Cilantroaround Oct 11
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
Radisharound Oct 23
Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.
Spinacharound Oct 27
Counts back 40 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy: light freezes sweeten it.

Transplant for fall

Broccoliaround Oct 2
Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 11-25.
Kalearound Oct 12
Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 11-25.

Sow cover crop

Cover crop (cereal rye + crimson clover)around Oct 26
Sown a month before frost it germinates, holds your soil all winter, and feeds it in spring.

Plant to overwinter

Onionaround Oct 28
In zone 7+ onion sets planted before frost overwinter for an early summer bulb.

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