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Zone 8B — October

What to Plant in October in Zone 8B

October in Zone 8B: 0 crops to start indoors, 0 to plant or direct sow outside, and 142 entering harvest window. Last frost averages March 20. Reference city: Houston, TX.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
0 Start Indoors
0 Plant Outside
142 Harvest
Frost risk: High

Frost risk is still high in Zone 8B. The last spring frost typically lands on March 20, with the earliest plausible clearance around February 27. Hold tender crops indoors a while longer.

See full Zone 8B frost outlook

Start Indoors in October

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

Plant Outside in October

Nothing to plant or sow outside in October for Zone 8B.
Next window: November — 12 varieties, including Asian Tempest Garlic, Chengdu Garlic, Chesnok Red Garlic.

Harvest in October

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Florida Market Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable Jul 15 Oct 3 – Oct 13
Round Mauve Eggplant (fall planting) vegetable Jul 15 Oct 3 – Oct 13
Abe Lincoln Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 30
Ace 55 Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 25
Amish Paste Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 14 – Oct 25
Anaheim Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 17 – Oct 25
Ancho Grande Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Anna Russian Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10
Atkinson Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Aunt Ruby's German Green Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20
Banana Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 12
Beefsteak Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 25
Better Boy Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 15
Big Beef Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10
Big Bertha Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 13
Big Boy Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 18
Big Jim Hatch Chile (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 15
Big Rainbow Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 25 – Nov 4
Black Cherry Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 4 – Oct 15
Black From Tula Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 25
Black Krim Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Black Pearl Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5
Blondkopfchen Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Bonny Best Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Bradley Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Brandywine Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 30
California Wonder Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 12 – Oct 15
Calypso Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Caribe Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Carmello Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 15
Cayenne Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 25
Celebrity Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 12
Chadwick's Cherry Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 30
Cherokee Purple Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 18 – Oct 25
Cherry Bomb peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Chinese 5-Color Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Chocolate Bell Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 20
Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 15
Chocolate Stripes Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20
Corno di Toro Pepper (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Costoluto Genovese Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Creole Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 18
Cubanelle Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 2 – Oct 10
Cupid Grape Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 10
Delicious Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Egg Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Emerald Giant Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Fish Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Five Star Grape Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 2
Floradade Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 15
Fresno Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
German Johnson Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 25
Gochugaru Korean Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15
Golden Marconi Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 20
Golden Sunray Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Green Grape Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 18
Green Zebra Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 18
Hatch Green Chile (NM 6-4) Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Hillbilly Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 25
Homestead Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 25
Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 15
Indigo Rose Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 30
Isis Candy Cherry Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Jalapeño Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 15
Jaune Flamme Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20
Jet Star Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 12
Jimmy Nardello Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 30
Jubilee Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Kellogg's Breakfast tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Large Red Cherry Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Manitoba Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 6
Marglobe Improved Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Marglobe Supreme Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Mariachi Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 6 – Oct 15
Marion Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Midnight Snack Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 10
Money Maker Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 25
Mountain Magic Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 12 – Oct 15
Mr. Stripey Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20
Mucho Nacho Jalapeño Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 8 – Oct 10
Orange Horizon Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Orange Oxheart Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Pasilla de Oaxaca Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Patio Princess Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 10
Paul Robeson tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 25
Pepperoncini Pepper (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 15
Pimento Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 25 – Oct 30
Pineapple Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Pink Delicious Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 24
Pink Oxheart Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 30
Poblano Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 5
Ponderosa Red Beefsteak Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 30
Purple Beauty Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 15
Purple Tiger Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 30 – Nov 9
Red Cayenne Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Red Cherry Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Red Mushroom Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Red Pear Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 15
Rio Grande Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Roma VF Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Rutgers Tomato (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
San Marzano Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 18 – Oct 28
Santa Fe Grande Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Serrano Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Sunbright Yellow Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Sunray Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 20
Sweet Treats Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 15
Tabasco Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 30
Thai Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Thessaloniki Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 1 – Oct 12
Tumbling Tom Red Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 5 – Oct 10
VR Moscow Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 20 – Oct 30
White Cloud Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 15
Yellow Beefsteak Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Yellow Jalapeno (Caloro) Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Yellow Mushroom Hot Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 15 – Oct 25
Yellow Oxheart Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 19
Yellow Pear Tomatoes (fall planting) tomato Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Yolo Wonder Sweet Peppers (fall planting) pepper Aug 1 Oct 10 – Oct 20
Astro Arugula (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 25
Beauty Pink Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 11
Beauty Purple Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 15
Beauty White Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 25
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 31
Champion Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 15
Cherry Belle Radish (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 10
Chervil (fall planting) herb Sep 15 Oct 30
Easter Egg Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 17
French Breakfast Radish (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 6
Giant Red Mustard (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 30
Green Ice Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 30
Green Wave Mustard (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 30
Hailstone Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 15
Mesclun Mix (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 15
Purple Plum Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 15
Red Orach (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 30
Slow-Bolt (Slo-Bolt) Cilantro/Coriander (fall planting) herb Sep 15 Oct 25
Sparkler Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 15
Tango Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 31
Tatsoi (fall planting) lettuce Sep 15 Oct 30
White Icicle Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Sep 15 Oct 15

Key Tasks for October in Zone 8B

  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 8B planting calendar
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