Zone 7 · October · 1 weeks before first frost
What to plant in October in Zone 7
Typical last frost in zone 7 is around Apr 1, and first frost around Oct 25. Most sowing is finished. Harvest continues, and cold zones should be thinking about protecting what is left in the pots.
Start indoors this month
Seed trays indoors, under a light or in the brightest window you have. These are slow crops that need a head start on the season.
Nothing in our dataset needs an indoor start this month in this zone.
Set out into the final container
Transplants go into the pot they will finish in. Hardening them off for four to five days first prevents most transplant shock.
No transplanting window is open this month here.
Direct sow
Sow straight into the final pot. These crops resent root disturbance, and transplanting them usually costs more time than it saves.
No direct-sowing window this month in this zone.
Sow for autumn
A second sowing timed backwards from first frost. Fewer pests, less watering, and better flavour in most cool crops.
- Radish — window Sep 13 – Oct 4 (1 gal, 6" deep)
Harvesting this month
Nothing from our dataset is in its harvest window this month here.
Not this month
- Cherry Tomato — next window opens in February. Starting it now means 4 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
- Basil — next window opens in February. Starting it now means 4 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
- Kale — next window opens in February. Starting it now means 4 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
Zone 7 at a glance
Zone 7 has around 180 frost-free days and a real summer. The limiting factor is July heat, not season length, so shading and watering matter more than sowing dates.