GreenlyWhat to plant in October in the Northeast and Midwest
Worked out for 67 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in October in the Northeast and Midwest, by zone: frost possible, highs of 72–82 °F (Dodge City): garlic and flower bulbs; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Joplin): garlic and flower bulbs; frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (New York, Chicago and 35 more): garlic, radish and flower bulbs; frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F (Omaha, Wichita and 12 more): garlic and flower bulbs; frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F (Portland, Maine, Burlington and 3 more): garlic and flower bulbs; frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F (Minneapolis, Fargo and 7 more): garlic and flower bulbs.
In the Northeast and Midwest, October is fall.
Frost possible, highs of 72–82 °F: Dodge City
In October, on average, Dodge City has highs of 72 °F and lows of 49 °F, 1.3 in of rain on 5 days; the day lasts 11 h 16 min (on the 15th).
October falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average first frost: Dodge City (October 29).
The same as in September.
Not starting in October: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors), green beans (May, sown direct), lettuce (February, started indoors), peas (March, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Dodge City.
Ready to harvest in October in Dodge City, if sown in the right month: pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), chayote (May), corn (July), Florence fennel (July), kiwano (July), luffa (May) and peanut (June).
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Joplin
In October, on average, Joplin has highs of 72 °F and lows of 53 °F, 4.2 in of rain on 9 days; the day lasts 11 h 17 min (on the 15th).
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
Compared with September: new — garlic, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip.
Not starting in October: tomato (February, started indoors), bell pepper (February, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors), green beans (May, sown direct), lettuce (March, sown direct), peas (March, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Joplin.
Ready to harvest in October in Joplin, if sown in the right month: zucchini (August), green beans (August), pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), chayote (May), corn (July), Florence fennel (July) and kiwano (July).
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and 33 more
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 61 to 71 °F and lows of 46 to 56 °F, 3.0 to 5.8 in of rain on 8 to 16 days; the day lasts 11 h 06 min to 11 h 16 min (on the 15th).
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| plant cloves | Garlic | all |
| sow direct | Radish | New York, Chicago, Boston and 22 more |
| plant bulbs | Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, tulip | all |
Compared with September: new — garlic, radish, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip; no longer sown — broad bean, peas, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, arugula and 5 more.
Not starting in October: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors), green beans (June, sown direct), lettuce (February, started indoors), peas (March, sown direct) and spinach (February, started indoors) — dates for Hartford.
Ready to harvest in October in Hartford, if sown in the right month: zucchini (August), green beans (August), watermelon (July), pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), arugula (September), chayote (May) and corn (July).
- Frost dates in New York
- Frost dates in Chicago
- Frost dates in Boston
- Frost dates in Philadelphia
- Frost dates in Detroit
- Frost dates in Kansas City
- Frost dates in St. Louis
- Frost dates in Columbus
- Frost dates in Indianapolis
- Frost dates in Milwaukee
- Frost dates in Cleveland
- Frost dates in Cincinnati
- Frost dates in Pittsburgh
- Frost dates in Buffalo
- Frost dates in Rochester
- Frost dates in Grand Rapids
- Frost dates in Providence
- Frost dates in Hartford
- Frost dates in Albany
- Frost dates in Springfield
- Frost dates in Lansing
- Frost dates in Jefferson City
- Frost dates in Trenton
- Frost dates in Harrisburg
- Frost dates in New Haven
- Frost dates in Fort Wayne
- Frost dates in Evansville
- Frost dates in Worcester (United States)
- Frost dates in Ann Arbor
- Frost dates in Manchester (United States)
- Frost dates in Atlantic City
- Frost dates in Syracuse (United States)
- Frost dates in Ithaca
- Frost dates in Toledo (United States)
- Frost dates in Dayton
- Frost dates in Erie
- Frost dates in Allentown
Frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F: Omaha, Wichita, Madison, Des Moines and 10 more
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 61 to 71 °F and lows of 43 to 52 °F, 1.6 to 4.2 in of rain on 6 to 10 days; the day lasts 11 h 03 min to 11 h 16 min (on the 15th).
October falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average first frost: Omaha (October 26), Wichita (October 30), Madison (October 27), Des Moines (October 27), Sioux Falls (October 21), Topeka (October 29), Lincoln (October 28), Concord (October 31), Pierre (October 24), Peoria (October 31), Rockford (October 28), Cedar Rapids (October 25), Davenport (October 30) and Grand Island (October 27).
The same as in September.
Not starting in October: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors), green beans (May, sown direct), lettuce (April, sown direct), peas (April, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Davenport.
Ready to harvest in October in Davenport, if sown in the right month: pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), chayote (May), corn (July), Florence fennel (July), kiwano (July) and peanut (June).
- Frost dates in Omaha
- Frost dates in Wichita
- Frost dates in Madison
- Frost dates in Des Moines
- Frost dates in Sioux Falls
- Frost dates in Topeka
- Frost dates in Lincoln
- Frost dates in Concord
- Frost dates in Pierre
- Frost dates in Peoria
- Frost dates in Rockford
- Frost dates in Cedar Rapids
- Frost dates in Davenport
- Frost dates in Grand Island
Frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F: Portland, Maine, Burlington, Augusta, Bangor and 1 more
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 58 to 60 °F and lows of 45 to 47 °F, 4.4 to 5.0 in of rain on 10 to 15 days; the day lasts 11 h 02 min to 11 h 05 min (on the 15th).
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| plant cloves | Garlic | all |
| sow direct | Radish | Traverse City |
| plant bulbs | Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, tulip | all |
Compared with September: new — garlic, radish, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip; no longer sown — broad bean, lettuce, broccoli and arugula.
Not starting in October: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors), green beans (June, sown direct), lettuce (March, started indoors), peas (April, sown direct) and spinach (March, started indoors) — dates for Augusta.
Ready to harvest in October in Augusta, if sown in the right month: peas (August), beet (August), zucchini (August), green beans (August), pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), parsley (August) and arugula (September).
Frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F: Minneapolis, Fargo, Green Bay, Bismarck and 5 more
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 55 to 61 °F and lows of 38 to 45 °F, 1.5 to 4.3 in of rain on 5 to 12 days; the day lasts 10 h 55 min to 11 h 04 min (on the 15th).
October falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average first frost: Minneapolis (October 24), Fargo (October 16), Green Bay (October 30), Bismarck (October 15), Montpelier (October 17), Duluth (October 28), Grand Forks (October 16), Rapid City (October 12) and Eau Claire (October 24).
Compared with September: no longer sown — radish.
Not starting in October: tomato (April, started indoors), bell pepper (April, started indoors), zucchini (May, started indoors), green beans (June, sown direct), lettuce (March, started indoors), peas (April, sown direct) and spinach (March, started indoors) — dates for Montpelier.
Ready to harvest in October in Montpelier, if sown in the right month: broad bean (July), peas (August), cabbage (June), beet (August), sweet corn (July), chickpea (July), corn (July) and Florence fennel (July).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in October and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in October if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
Cornell Cooperative Extension sets the season here: hardy crops from about four weeks before the last frost, warm ones after it, heat lovers about 18 days after; the last plantings from 3 weeks (radish) to 16 weeks (melons) before the first frost — counted from each city’s own frost dates.
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for October 2027
- What to plant in October: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
Other months in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in October in the South
- What to plant in October in Texas
- What to plant in October in Florida
- What to plant in October in California
- What to plant in October in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in October in the Southwest
- What to plant in October in the Mountain West
- What to plant in October in Canada
- What to plant in October in the UK
