What to Plant in October in Zone 9
Here is what you can sow in October if you garden in USDA zone 9. Dates use typical zone 9 frosts, so your own microclimate may shift them by a week or two.
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| Crop | Window | Sow between |
|---|---|---|
| CilantroCalypso | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 4 |
| ParsleyItalian Flat-Leaf | fall | Sep 4 – Oct 20 |
| Lettuce, leafSalad Bowl | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 20 |
| Lettuce, romaineChalupa | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 20 |
| Lettuce, headButtercrunch | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 4 |
| SpinachBloomsdale | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 9 |
| ArugulaAstro | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 20 |
| KaleDazzling Blue | fall | Sep 4 – Oct 20 |
| Swiss ChardBright Lights | fall | Sep 4 – Oct 20 |
| CollardsGeorgia Southern | fall | Aug 21 – Oct 20 |
| Mustard GreensFlorida Broadleaf | fall | Sep 9 – Oct 21 |
| CabbageTiara | fall | Aug 21 – Oct 5 |
| KohlrabiWinner | fall | Sep 9 – Oct 10 |
| CarrotNapoli | fall | Sep 9 – Oct 5 |
| BeetDetroit Dark Red | fall | Sep 9 – Oct 10 |
| RadishCherry Belle | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 4 |
| TurnipPurple Top | fall | Sep 9 – Oct 15 |
| Onion, bulbTexas Legend | fall | Oct 10 – Nov 21 |
| GarlicMusic | fall | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
| Onion, bunchingEvergreen | fall | Sep 9 – Oct 20 |
| Brussels SproutsLong Island Improved | fall | Aug 21 – Oct 6 |
| Napa CabbageBlues F1 | fall | Aug 27 – Oct 6 |
| Bok ChoyJoi Choi F1 | fall | Sep 16 – Oct 26 |
| Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Zamboni F1 | fall | Sep 11 – Oct 21 |
| Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)Crispy Blue | fall | Sep 6 – Oct 16 |
| TatsoiTatsoi | fall | Sep 11 – Oct 26 |
| MizunaMizuna Early | fall | Sep 16 – Oct 31 |
| Daikon RadishMiyashige | fall | Sep 16 – Oct 26 |
| EndiveFrisée Fine Maraîchère | fall | Sep 11 – Oct 16 |
| EscaroleBatavian Full Heart | fall | Sep 11 – Oct 16 |
| RadicchioPalla Rossa Mavrik | fall | Sep 1 – Oct 11 |
| SorrelProfusion | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 5 |
| WatercressCommon | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 5 |
| LeekLincoln | fall | Aug 22 – Oct 10 |
| CeleriacPrinz | fall | Aug 29 – Oct 3 |
| RutabagaLaurentian | fall | Aug 22 – Oct 3 |
| Fennel, FlorenceOrion | fall | Sep 5 – Oct 10 |
| Strawberry, day-neutralAlbion | fall | Oct 6 – Nov 5 |
| DillFernleaf | fall | Oct 3 – Nov 14 |
| ChervilCurled | fall | Oct 10 – Nov 21 |
| Strawberry, June-bearingHoneoye | fall | Oct 6 – Nov 5 |
| Lettuce | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 20 |
| Onion | fall | Oct 10 – Nov 21 |
| Calendula (Pot Marigold)Resina | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 4 |
| Mache (Corn Salad)Vit | fall | Oct 6 – Nov 25 |
| Cress, gardenCurled | fall | Sep 21 – Nov 20 |
Zone 9 in October
Zone 9 in October: the brassica transplant window shuts for the year
A long last chance list
October carries the longest closing list of the fall season: kale, chard, collards, mustard, cabbage, kohlrabi, carrot, beet, turnip, and a dozen more all need to be in the ground in the first half of the month or risk not sizing up before winter's shorter days slow growth to a crawl.
Root crops are the least forgiving of a late start. Beet is the quicker of the two, sizing up in around 55 days, while carrot needs closer to 10 weeks of steady growth start to finish; sow carrot first if the month is already half gone, since it has the least room to spare. Push either past mid month and you risk pencil-width roots by the time growth stalls in December.
What actually opens this late in the year
Fall strawberries, dill, chervil, and mache all get their start now instead of closing out, since these are crops that prefer cool soil to germinate well and would have bolted or struggled in September's lingering warmth. Strawberry crowns planted this month spend winter building roots and reward that patience with a stronger first fruiting the following spring.
Bulb onion also opens its fall slot in October; press a set into the soil so just the tip shows, about an inch deep, and space sets 4 to 5 inches apart to leave room for bulbs to size up through winter without crowding their neighbors.
Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar
A soil thermometer is worth the 10 dollars this month, since air temperature and soil temperature can run 10 degrees apart in October. Most of this month's greens germinate best between 45 and 75 degrees at a 2 inch depth, and a reading outside that range is a better reason to wait a few days than any date on a calendar.
If a cold snap is forecast before transplants have had 2 weeks to root in, a temporary cover of row fabric weighted at the edges with soil or rocks buys enough protection for most fall crops, which tolerate a light frost far better than the tender crops of spring ever did.
October in zone 9: common questions
What can I plant in October in zone 9?+
In October, USDA zone 9 gardeners can sow Cilantro, Parsley, Lettuce, leaf, Lettuce, romaine, Lettuce, head, Spinach, and more. Dates use typical zone 9 frosts, so your own microclimate may shift them by a week or two.
What USDA hardiness zone am I in?+
Zone 9 is one band of the map, but planting time is set by your local frost dates, not the zone number. Enter your ZIP code in the free planner and it uses your actual frost dates, which can differ by weeks within a single zone.
Are these October planting dates exact?+
They are typical zone 9 windows. Two gardens in the same zone can be a week or two apart because of elevation and local climate, so treat these as a starting point and tune them to your ZIP code with the free planner.