Month by month · Oregon · Washington · Idaho
October in the garden
Garlic month. The first fall frost reaches most west-side valleys between late October and late November, so finish harvesting tender crops.
What to plant in October
How much can go in across the five climate regions. Your region's row is highlighted once you pick a town.
| Region | Plant outside | Start indoors | October 1 – 31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast | 7 plants | Nothing | |
| West-side valleys | 7 plants | Nothing | |
| East-side valleys | 6 plants | Nothing | |
| Inland Northwest | 6 plants | Nothing | |
| High desert | 6 plants, until Oct 20 | Nothing |
October planting dates, by region
| Plant | Coast | West-side valleys | East-side valleys | Inland Northwest | High desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | Plant Sep 25 – Oct 31 | Plant Sep 20 – Oct 20 | |
| Plant Oct 1–31 | Plant Oct 1–31 | — | — | — | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | Plant Sep 25 – Oct 31 | Plant Sep 20 – Oct 20 | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | Plant Sep 25 – Oct 31 | Plant Sep 20 – Oct 20 | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | Plant Sep 25 – Oct 31 | Plant Sep 20 – Oct 20 | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | Plant Sep 25 – Oct 31 | Plant Sep 20 – Oct 20 | |
| Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 15 | Plant Oct 1 – Nov 1 | Plant Sep 25 – Oct 31 | Plant Sep 20 – Oct 20 |
Dates are for one typical town in each region: Astoria, Portland, Pendleton, Spokane and Bend and Redmond. Plant now shows your own town's dates.
October jobs
Plant and sow
- Plant garlic cloves, pointed end up, about 2 inches deep. West-side valleys
- Plant shallots and overwintering onion sets.
- Plant tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs.
- Sow fava beans and cover crops in empty beds. West-side valleys
Start indoors
- Pot up a few herbs like parsley and chives to grow on a windowsill.
Harvest
- Winter squash and pumpkins before a hard frost, then cure them somewhere warm.
- Green tomatoes before frost; many will ripen indoors in a paper bag.
- Carrots, beets, leeks and fall greens. Carrots sweeten after a light frost.
- The last potatoes, on a dry day.
Garden care
Pests and problems
- Clear out squash and cucumber vines with mildew.
- Keep slug traps out around fall greens. West-side valleys
Fruit, berries and flowers
- Plant fruit trees and shrubs in the fall rains. West-side valleys
- Mulch strawberries after a few frosts.
- Cut back asparagus ferns once they turn yellow.
Read next
When and How to Plant Garlic in Oregon, Washington and IdahoGarlic goes in during fall and comes out the next summer. Here's when to plant it where you live, which kind to buy, and how to harvest and cure it.
Winter Cover Crops for Northwest Vegetable BedsWhy to sow cover crops in empty beds each fall, which ones grow well in Northwest gardens, and how to turn them under in spring.
Growing Dahlias in the NorthwestDahlias thrive in Northwest summers if you get the timing and drainage right. Here's when to plant tubers, how to care for them, and what to do in winter.