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Zone 6A — October

What to Plant in October in Zone 6A

October in Zone 6A: 0 crops to start indoors, 12 to plant or direct sow outside, and 60 entering harvest window. Last frost averages April 29. Reference city: Columbus, OH.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
0 Start Indoors
12 Plant Outside
60 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

Nothing to start seeds indoors in October for Zone 6A.
Next window: January — 3 varieties, including Green Onion, King Richard Leek, Leek.

Plant Outside in October

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
Asian Tempest Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Chengdu Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Chesnok Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Creole Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Elephant Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 8, 2027 – Jul 14, 2027
German Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Inchelium Red Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Mild French Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Music Hardneck Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Purple Glazer Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Siberian Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027
Softneck Garlic allium Plant Out Oct 25 Jul 1, 2027 – Jul 20, 2027

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)
Adirondack Blue Potato (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 15
All Season Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 8
All Year Round Lettuce (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) allium Jul 20 Oct 8
Broad Windsor Fava Bean (fall planting) legume Jul 20 Oct 8
Broadleaf Full Heart Batavian Endive (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 18
Brunswick Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 20 Oct 18
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 Lettuce (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
French Fingerling Potato (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 21
Georgia Southern Collard Greens (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 13
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
Heritage Rainbow Blend Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Iceberg Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
King Richard Leek (fall planting) allium Jul 20 Oct 3
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 20 Oct 3
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop (fall planting) cover crop Jul 20 Oct 3
Morris Heading Collard (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
Nodding Catchfly Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 18
Orion Florence Fennel (fall planting) vegetable Jul 20 Oct 18
Par-Cel Cutting Celery (fall planting) vegetable Jul 20 Oct 13
Purple Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 3
Purple Haze Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 1
Queen Anne's Lace Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 3
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
Texas Bluebonnet Lupine Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 20 Oct 23
Tuscany Black Kale (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
Vates Collard (fall planting) lettuce Jul 20 Oct 3
Verona Red Chicory (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
Yukon Gold Potato (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 20 Oct 18
Sugar Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Aug 6 Oct 15

Key Tasks for October in Zone 6A

  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 6A planting calendar
September October in Zone 6A February

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