Zone 9 · October · 4 weeks before first frost
What to plant in October in Zone 9
Typical last frost in zone 9 is around Mar 1, and first frost around Nov 15. 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.
- Loose-leaf Lettuce — window Sep 20 – Oct 11 (2 gal, 6" deep)
- Radish — window Oct 4 – Oct 25 (1 gal, 6" deep)
- Kale — window Sep 20 – Oct 11 (3 gal, 10" deep)
- Spinach — window Sep 27 – Oct 18 (2 gal, 6" deep)
- Carrot — window Sep 20 – Oct 11 (3 gal, 12" 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 January. Starting it now means 3 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
- Basil — next window opens in January. Starting it now means 3 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
- Hot Pepper — next window opens in January. Starting it now means 3 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
Zone 9 at a glance
Zone 9 has around 230 frost-free days. Cool-season crops behave like winter crops here, and summer is the hard season rather than winter.