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Zone 6A — October

What to Plant in October in Zone 6A

October in Zone 6A: 1 crop to start indoors, 1 to plant or direct sow outside, and 63 entering harvest window. Last frost averages April 29. Reference city: Columbus, OH.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
1 Start Indoors
1 Plant Outside
63 Harvest
Frost risk: Cleared

Frost season has cleared in Zone 6A. The last spring frost typically passed by April 29, and the very latest 10% chance closed by May 15. Tender crops are safe to plant out.

See full Zone 6A frost outlook →

Start Indoors in October

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Garlic root vegetable Oct 24 Oct 31 Jun 28 – Jul 28

Plant Outside in October

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
Garlic root vegetable Transplant Oct 31 Jun 28 – Jul 28

Harvest in October

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Winter rye cover crop stands cover crop Apr 29 Oct 26 – Dec 5
Roselle calyces and leaves vegetable May 6 Oct 3 – Oct 8 (before frost)
All Season Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 8
All Year Round (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 1
Amarillo Yellow Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Angelica (fall planting) herb Jul 20 Oct 18
Autumn King Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 8
Baby Blue Eyes Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 18
Bachelor's button edible flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 8
Barletta, Pearly White Onions (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 8
Broad Windsor Fava Bean (fall planting) legume Jul 20 Oct 13
Brunswick Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 18
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 3
Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 13
Cosmic Purple Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Crimson Clover (fall planting) cover crop Jul 20 Oct 18
Crisphead (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
Curly Parsley (fall planting) herb Jul 20 Oct 8
Danvers Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 8
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley (fall planting) herb Jul 20 Oct 3
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 3
Evergreen Parsley (fall planting) herb Jul 20 Oct 13
Flat-Leaf Parsley (fall planting) herb Jul 20 Oct 18
Full Heart Batavian (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 18
Georgia Southern Collard Greens (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 8
Giant Maximum Mix Snapdragon Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 23
Globe Gilia Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 8
Glory of Enkhuizen Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 18
Golden Celery (fall planting) vegetable Jul 20 Oct 23
Hairy vetch cover crop stands (fall planting) cover crop Jul 20 Oct 18
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Jul 20 Oct 23
Harris Model Parsnips (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 18
Heritage Rainbow Blend Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Iceberg (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
Lacy Phacelia Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 3
Love-in-a-Mist Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 13
Lunar White Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 8
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 20 Oct 2
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Jul 20 Oct 3
Morris Heading (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 8
Mâche (Corn Salad) (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 12
Nantes Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 23 Oct 6
Napa Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 18
Nodding Catchfly Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 18
Nutri-Red Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Oregon Giant Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 20 Oct 2
Orion Florence Fennel (fall planting) vegetable Jul 20 Oct 18
Purple Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Purple Haze Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 1
Radicchio (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 13
Red Acre Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 8
Romaine Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
Savoy Perfection Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 23
Snow White Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Solar Yellow Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Sweet Marjoram (fall planting) herb Jul 20 Oct 18
Texas Bluebonnet Lupine Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 23
Tuscany Black (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
Vates Collard (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
Verona Red (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 20
Waltham 29 Broccoli (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 18
Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Jul 20 Oct 18
Sugar Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 6 Oct 15

Key Tasks for October in Zone 6A

  1. 1 Start 1 variety indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
  2. 2 Harden off transplants before moving outdoors — set them outside in a sheltered spot for increasing hours over 7–10 days before planting in the ground.
  3. 3 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 6A planting calendar
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