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Zone 5A — October

What to Plant in October in Zone 5A

October in Zone 5A: 0 crops to start indoors, 12 to plant or direct sow outside, and 52 entering harvest window. Last frost averages May 7. Reference city: Des Moines, IA.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
0 Start Indoors
12 Plant Outside
52 Harvest
Frost risk: Cleared

Frost season has cleared in Zone 5A. The last spring frost typically passed by May 7, and the very latest 10% chance closed by May 21. Tender crops are safe to plant out.

See full Zone 5A frost outlook

Start Indoors in October

Nothing to start seeds indoors in October for Zone 5A.
Next window: January — 1 variety, including Green Onion.

Plant Outside in October

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
Asian Tempest Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Chengdu Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Chesnok Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Creole Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Elephant Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 8, 2027 – Jul 14, 2027
German Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Inchelium Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Mild French Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Music Hardneck Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Purple Glazer Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Siberian Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Softneck Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 14 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027

Harvest in October

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Roselle calyces and leaves vegetable May 14 Oct 11 – Nov 10
All Season Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Oct 13
All Year Round Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 6
Amarillo Yellow Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 8
Autumn King Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 13
Bachelor's button edible flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Oct 13
Barletta, Pearly White Onions (fall planting) allium Jul 25 Oct 13
Broad Windsor Fava Bean (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Oct 13
Chantenay Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 3
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Oct 3
Cosmic Purple Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 8
Crisphead Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 8
Curly Parsley (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Oct 13
Danvers Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 13
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Oct 8
Dark Green Romaine Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 3
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Oct 8
Globe Gilia Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Oct 13
Green Arrow Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Oct 3
Heritage Rainbow Blend Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 8
Iceberg Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 8
Igloo Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Oct 3
King Richard Leek (fall planting) allium Jul 25 Oct 8
Kuroda Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 3
Love-in-a-Mist Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Oct 3
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Oct 8
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Jul 25 Oct 8
Michihili Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Oct 3
Morris Heading Collard (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 13
Napa Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Oct 3
Nutri-Red Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 3
Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Oct 1
Purple Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 8
Purple Haze Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 6
Queen Anne's Lace Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Oct 8
Rapeseed Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Jul 25 Oct 3
Red Acre Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Oct 13
Red Romaine Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 3
Romaine Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 8
Scarlet Flax Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Oct 3
Shelling Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Oct 3
Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Oct 3
Snow White Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 8
Solar Yellow Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 8
St. Valery Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 3
Sugar Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 26 Oct 4
Tendersweet Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Oct 3
Tom Thumb Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 3
Tuscany Black Kale (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 8
Vates Collard (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Oct 8
Viola and pansy edible flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Oct 3
Wando Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Oct 1

Key Tasks for October in Zone 5A

  1. 1 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
Back to full Zone 5A planting calendar
September October in Zone 5A February

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