What to Plant in October in Zone 8

9 crops you can start in zone 8a & 8b during October. The dates are worked out from zone 8's typical frosts: last spring frost around Mar 25, first fall frost around Nov 10. Each crop links to its full dates for zone 8.

Sow or plant outside in October

What goes in the ground this month, either as seed or as a transplant. Dates are the planting-out window for zone 8.

Vegetables & herbs

GarlicPlant clovesOct–NovFall
RadishDirect sowOct 2–Oct 16Fall

Flowers

CrocusPlant bulbsSep–NovFall
Daffodil (Narcissus)Plant bulbsSep–NovFall
Dutch IrisPlant bulbsSep–NovFall
HyacinthPlant bulbsSep–NovFall
Ornamental AlliumPlant bulbsSep–NovFall
RanunculusPlant bulbsOct–DecFall

Still time to start indoors

The usual indoor-start date for these has passed, but planting-out hasn't come yet. Seed started now still makes a transplant, just a smaller one. Buying starts is the easy alternative. Dates are when they go outside.

TulipPlant outNovFall

← September in zone 8 · November in zone 8 →

Keep planning

Growing guides

Plan your bed

Not sure of your zone? Look it up by ZIP code.

October in other zones: zone 3, zone 4, zone 5, zone 6, zone 7, zone 9, zone 10, zone 11

Worth having in October

Nisaku NJP650 Hori-Hori Weeding KnifeDepth markings on the blade for planting bulbs and garlic at the right depth.Check price on Amazon →Agfabric 0.55oz Floating Row CoverLight enough to leave on through a cold night when a frost threatens early or late plantings.Check price on Amazon →FCMP Outdoor IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling ComposterTwo chambers, so one batch finishes while you add fall leaves and scraps to the other.Check price on Amazon →

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What to plant in October in zone 8: garlic, radish, crocus, daffodil (narcissus) and more

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What to plant in October in zone 8: 9 crops to start indoors or plant outside, including garlic, radish, crocus, daffodil (narcissus), with exact dates for zone 8a and 8b.

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