Zone 6 Gardening

What to Plant in October in Zone 6 - A Complete Guide

By Parvez Akhtar Pasha | Oct 01, 2025

If you live in USDA Zone 6, you know very well that October is not just a month when the air gets cool and the leaves change color. Actually, you can grow many plants like perennials, bulbs, and cool-weather veggies in October. Also, it's a great time to prepare your garden for a strong season ahead.

If you are planning to plant now in October, trust me, you are great! Don't think, just plant right now, and your plant will have enough time to grow the roots strong before winter comes.

Just remember one thing, the frost usually hits your area around mid-October. So, have some row covers or even an old bedsheet ready to protect your plants.

Now, let's talk about what you can plant this October in Zone 6.

Leafy Greens to Plant in Zone 6

Leafy Green	Planting Method	Transplanting Time	First Harvest	Variety Recommendations
Spinach	Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 2–3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart	14–21 days	40–50 days	Acadia, Reflect, Space
Kale	Direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, thin to 12–18 inches apart	10–14 days	55–75 days	Winterbor, Dwarf Blue Curled Vates, Siberian
Lettuce (Head/Leaf)	Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, thin leaf to 6 inches, head to 12 inches	14 days	45–70 days	Winter Marvel, Red Romaine, Arctic King
Swiss Chard	Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 6–12 inches apart	10–14 days	50–60 days	Fordhook Giant, Lucullus, Bright Lights
Collards	Direct sow or transplant seedlings 18 inches apart	14 days	60–80 days	Georgia Southern, Vates, Champion
Mustard Greens	Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, thin to 6–12 inches	N/A	30–40 days	Southern Giant Curled, Red Giant, Green Wave
Bok Choy	Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, thin to 6–12 inches	14 days	45–60 days	Joi Choi, Win Win Choi, Beijing Red
Arugula	Sow seeds shallowly, thin to 4–6 inches	N/A	30–40 days	Astro, Rocket, Wild Rocket

The first harvest time mentioned in the above table is just an estimated time and can change a little depending on your soil, sunlight, and weather conditions.

For your kind information, the "Transplanting Time" is counted in days after sowing seeds, not calendar dates.

Vegetables to Plant in Zone 6 in October

Vegetable	Planting Method	Transplanting Time (days after sowing)	First Harvest	Variety Recommendations
Beets	Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 3–4 inches apart	N/A	50–60 days	Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia
Carrots	Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, thin to 2–3 inches	N/A	60–80 days	Nantes, Danvers
Radishes	Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 1–2 inches apart	N/A	20–30 days	Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, Easter Egg
Turnips	Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, thin to 4–6 inches	N/A	40–60 days	Purple Top White Globe, Hakurei
Parsnips	Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, thin to 3–4 inches	N/A	100–120 days	All American, Hollow Crown
Broccoli	Transplant seedlings 18–24 inches apart	12–16 days	50–70 days	Green Magic, Packman
Cauliflower	Transplant 18 inches apart	12–16 days	50–80 days	Snow Crown, Amazing
Cabbage	Transplant 12–24 inches apart	12–16 days	60–90 days	Stonehead, Golden Acre, Copenhagen Market
Peas (Snow/Snap)	Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 2 inches apart	N/A	50–70 days	Oregon Sugar Pod, Sugar Snap
Garlic	Plant cloves 2 inches deep, pointed up, 4–6 inches apart	N/A	Next summer	German Extra Hardy, Music
Shallots	Plant bulbs 1–2 inches deep, 6 inches apart	N/A	Next summer	Ambition, French Gray, Golden Gourmet
Onions (Sets/Walking/Potato)	Plant sets 1 inch deep, 4 inches apart	N/A	Next spring/summer	Stuttgarter, Egyptian Walking, Walla Walla

As you can see, the transplanting time for many plants is marked as N/A, which means they do not need a transplant. So, plant their seeds or bulbs directly in the soil at the recommended spacing and depth.

Fruits and Berries to Plant this October

These are the best fruits and berries to plant this October in Zone 6. If you plant them right now, I'm telling you, one day you will get sweet and juicy fruits from your garden.

Fruit/Berry	Planting Method	Plant Height	First Harvest	Variety Recommendations
Strawberries	Place the crown at soil level, spread out roots, space plants 12–18 inches apart	6–12 inches	Next spring	Eversweet, Seascape
Raspberries	Plant canes 2 feet apart in rows 6 feet apart, bury 2–3 inches deep	4–6 feet	Next fall	Heritage, Anne, Autumn Bliss
Blueberries	Plant in acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5), keep 4–5 feet between bushes	3–6 feet	2–3 years later	Bluecrop, Jersey
Apple	Dig a hole twice the size of the root, plant tree so graft is level with soil	12–20 feet	3–5 years	Honeycrisp, Liberty, Crimson Gala
Pear	Plant similar to apples, leave 15–20 feet between trees	12–18 feet	3–5 years	Bartlett, Moonglow

If you give your plants enough space, they grow strong and stay healthy, and it also lowers the chance of diseases.

I always plant fruit trees in a spot where they get full sun at least 6 to 8 hours daily for the best fruit production.

Flowers to Plant in Zone 6

Name	Planting Method	First Bloom	Perennial or Annual	Flower Color
Tulips	Plant bulbs 6–8 inches deep, 4–6 inches apart, pointy end up in well-drained soil	Early to mid-spring (April–May)	Perennial (often treated as annual in Zone 6)	Red, pink, yellow, white
Daffodils	Plant bulbs 6 inches deep, 6 inches apart in sunny or partly shaded spots	Early spring (March–April)	Perennial	Yellow, white, orange
Hyacinths	Plant bulbs 4–6 inches deep, 4–6 inches apart in fertile soil	Mid spring (April)	Perennial	Purple, pink, white, blue
Crocuses	Plant bulbs 3–4 inches deep, 3 inches apart, in groups for best effect	Very early spring (February–March)	Perennial	Purple, yellow, white
Pansies	Plant seedlings 6–8 inches apart in full sun or partial shade	Late fall or early spring (November or March)	Annual (cool-season)	Purple, yellow, blue, white
Violas	Plant seedlings 6–8 inches apart, same as pansies	Late fall or early spring (November or March)	Annual (cool-season)	Violet, yellow, white, blue
Peonies	Plant bare-root or potted plants with eyes 1–2 inches below soil, 3 feet apart	Late spring (May–June)	Perennial	Red, pink, white
Daylilies	Plant crowns at soil level, 18–24 inches apart in full sun	Early summer (June–July)	Perennial	Yellow, orange, red, pink
Alliums	Plant bulbs 4–6 inches deep, 6–8 inches apart in sunny spots	Late spring to early summer (May–June)	Perennial	Purple, white
Grape Hyacinths	Plant bulbs 3–4 inches deep, 3 inches apart, in clusters	Early spring (March–April)	Perennial	Blue, purple
Snowdrops	Plant bulbs 3 inches deep, 3 inches apart, in part shade	Very early spring (February)	Perennial	White

Most of the flowers listed in the table prefer 6–8 hours of sunlight daily. Some, like snowdrops and crocuses, can grow in partial shade.

Herbs to Plant in October in Zone 6

If you love to add fresh herbs to your meals like me, these herbs can be the best choice to plant this October in Zone 6.

Herb	Planting Method	Transplanting Time	First Harvest	Variety Recommendations & Flavor
Parsley	Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, space 6–8 inches apart	10–14 days	70–90 days	Italian Flat Leaf (robust flavor), Curly (garnish, mild taste)
Cilantro	Sow seeds shallow, space 4 inches apart	N/A	45–70 days	Santo (slow to bolt, fresh flavor), Calypso (productive, classic cilantro taste)
Chives	Plant clumps 8–12 inches apart	10–14 days	Spring (overwinters)	Garlic Chives (mild garlic taste), Common (onion flavor)
Oregano (indoor start)	Sow seeds in pots, keep soil moist	N/A	60 days	Greek (strong, pungent), Italian (mild, aromatic)

Parvez Akhtar Pasha

Hi, I am Parvez Akhtar Pasha. I was in school when I first saw a plant grow from a seed. Over the years, I have gained a lot of experience in gardening, and I will gradually share it with you here.