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Zone 5B — October

What to Plant in October in Zone 5B

October in Zone 5B: 0 crops to start indoors, 12 to plant or direct sow outside, and 76 entering harvest window. Last frost averages May 4. Reference city: Kansas City, MO.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
0 Start Indoors
12 Plant Outside
76 Harvest
Frost risk: Cleared

Frost season has cleared in Zone 5B. The last spring frost typically passed by May 4, and the very latest 10% chance closed by May 18. Tender crops are safe to plant out.

See full Zone 5B frost outlook

Start Indoors in October

Nothing to start seeds indoors in October for Zone 5B.
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 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Chengdu Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Chesnok Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Creole Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Elephant Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 8, 2027 – Jul 14, 2027
German Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Inchelium Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Mild French Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Music Hardneck Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Purple Glazer Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Siberian Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Softneck Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 19 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027

Harvest in October

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Roselle calyces and leaves vegetable May 11 Oct 8 – Nov 7
Winter rye cover crop stands cover crop May 4 Oct 31 – Dec 10
Sugar Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 31 Oct 9
All Season Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 20
All Year Round Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
All Year Round Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 13
Amarillo Yellow Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 15
Autumn King Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 20
Bachelor's button edible flowers (fall planting) flower Aug 1 Oct 20
Barletta, Pearly White Onions (fall planting) allium Aug 1 Oct 20
Bouquet Dill (fall planting) herb Aug 1 Oct 5
Broad Windsor Fava Bean (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 20
Butterhead Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 5
Calabrese Broccoli (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
California Bluebell (fall planting) flower Aug 1 Oct 5
Chantenay Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 10
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 10
Copenhagen Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
Cosmic Purple Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 15
Crisphead Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 15
Curly Kale (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 5
Curly Parsley (fall planting) herb Aug 1 Oct 20
Danvers Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 20
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley (fall planting) herb Aug 1 Oct 15
Dark Green Romaine Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 10
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 15
Early Purple Broccoli (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
Endive / Escarole (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 5
Evergreen Bunching Onions (fall planting) allium Aug 1 Oct 5
German Chamomile (fall planting) herb Aug 1 Oct 5
Globe Gilia Flowers (fall planting) flower Aug 1 Oct 20
Golden Acre Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
Golden Beet (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 5
Green Arrow Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 10
Heritage Rainbow Blend Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 15
Iceberg Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 15
Igloo Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 10
King Richard Leek (fall planting) allium Aug 1 Oct 15
Kuroda Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 10
Lacinato Kale (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 5
Little Marvel Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 3
Love-in-a-Mist Flowers (fall planting) flower Aug 1 Oct 10
Mammoth Dill (fall planting) herb Aug 1 Oct 5
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 15
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Aug 1 Oct 15
Michihili Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 10
Morris Heading Collard (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 20
Napa Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 10
Nutri-Red Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 10
Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 8
Paris Market Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 5
Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 2
Purple Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 15
Purple Haze Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 13
Queen Anne's Lace Flowers (fall planting) flower Aug 1 Oct 15
Rapeseed Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Aug 1 Oct 10
Rapini Broccoli Raab (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
Red Acre Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 20
Red Romaine Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 10
Romaine Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 15
Scarlet Flax Flowers (fall planting) flower Aug 1 Oct 10
Shelling Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 10
Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 10
Snow White Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 15
Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
Solar Yellow Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 15
St. Valery Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 10
Tendersweet Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 10
Tom Thumb Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 10
Tuscany Black Kale (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 15
Vates Collard (fall planting) lettuce Aug 1 Oct 15
Vienna Purple Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
Viola and pansy edible flowers (fall planting) flower Aug 1 Oct 10
Violetta Purple Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Aug 1 Oct 5
Wando Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 1 Oct 8
Watermelon Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 1 Oct 5

Key Tasks for October in Zone 5B

  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 5B planting calendar
September October in Zone 5B February

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