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Zone 8A — October

What to Plant in October in Zone 8A

October in Zone 8A: 0 crops to start indoors, 3 to plant or direct sow outside, and 95 entering harvest window. Last frost averages March 30. Reference city: Dallas, TX.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
0 Start Indoors
3 Plant Outside
95 Harvest
Frost risk: High

Frost risk is still high in Zone 8A. The last spring frost typically lands on March 30, with the earliest plausible clearance around March 11. Hold tender crops indoors a while longer.

See full Zone 8A frost outlook →

Start Indoors in October

Nothing to start seeds indoors in October for Zone 8A.
Next window: January — 1 variety, including Texas 1015Y SuperSweet Onion.

Plant Outside in October

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
Elephant Garlic root vegetable Plant Out Oct 9 Apr 7, 2027 – Jun 6, 2027
Garlic root vegetable Transplant Oct 1 May 29 – Jun 28
Softneck Garlic root vegetable Plant Out Oct 9 Jun 6, 2027 – Jul 6, 2027

Harvest in October

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Nantes Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Aug 14 Oct 28
Alaska Early Pea (fall planting) legume Sep 1 Oct 31
America (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Astro Arugula (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 11
Beauty Pink Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Beauty Purple Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Beauty White Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Black Seeded Simpson (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 17
Blonde de Paris (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 23
Blue Curled Scotch (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Bok Choy (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Boltardy Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
Broadleaf Classic (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Bull's Blood Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 26
Burgundy Boston (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Buttercrunch (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Calendula (fall planting) flower Sep 1 Oct 31
Calypso Cilantro (fall planting) herb Sep 1 Oct 26
Canary Yellow (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Champion Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Cherry Belle Radish (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Chervil (fall planting) herb Sep 1 Oct 16
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) (fall planting) brassica Sep 1 Oct 21
Crimson Forest Bunching Onions (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
Crosby's Egyptian Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
Cylindra Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
Daikon Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 26
Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Sep 1 Oct 31
Delicatesse White Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Sep 1 Oct 31
Detroit Dark Red Beet (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
Dill (fall planting) herb Sep 1 Oct 26
Dukat Dill (fall planting) herb Sep 1 Oct 21
Dutch Lamb's Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Early Wonder Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 21
Easter Egg Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 3
Fairy Dwarf Mix Candytuft Flowers (fall planting) flower Sep 1 Oct 31
Fenugreek (fall planting) herb Sep 1 Oct 21
Florida Broadleaf (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Fordhook Giant (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
French Lamb's Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Giant Red (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 16
Golden Detroit Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
Golden Globe Turnips (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 21
Green Ice (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 16
Green Wave (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 16
Hailstone Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Hot Pink (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Kagraner Sommer (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 29
Leaf Lettuce Mix (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Little Fingers Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 26
Little Gem (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 27
Lollo Bionda (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Lollo Rossa (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 27
Magenta Sunset (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Marvel of Four Seasons (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Matador Viking (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 19
Mesclun Mix (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 1
Mizuna (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Monstrueux de Viroflay (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Mustard Greens (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
New Zealand Spinach (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Noble Giant (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Old Fashion (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Orange (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Paris Market Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 26
Phacelia cover crop and bee forage (fall planting) cover crop Sep 1 Oct 31
Premier (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Purple Plum Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Rainbow Mix (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Red Leaf Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Red Russian Kale (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Royal Carpet Alyssum Flowers (fall planting) flower Sep 1 Oct 31
Ruby Red (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Salad Bowl Green (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum) (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Siberian Dwarf (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Slow-Bolt (Slo-Bolt) Cilantro/Coriander (fall planting) herb Sep 1 Oct 11
Snow Crown Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Sep 1 Oct 31
Sparkler Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 1
Sugar Ann Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Sep 1 Oct 27
Summer Bibb (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Swiss Chard (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Tango (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 11
Tatsoi (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 16
Tendergreen (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
Turnip (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
Vates Kale (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 26
Vietnamese Coriander (fall planting) herb Sep 1 Oct 31
White Boston (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21
White Detroit Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 31
White Icicle Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 1 Oct 11
Winner Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Sep 1 Oct 21
Winter Density (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 31
Winter Giant (fall planting) lettuce Sep 1 Oct 21

Key Tasks for October in Zone 8A

  1. 1 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.
  2. 2 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 8A planting calendar
September October in Zone 8A November

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