Zone 3a Planting Schedule
Action Plan: October in Zone 3a
Expert Note
In October, keep harvesting and remove diseased leaves to reduce late blight and other fungal issues. Water early in the day, avoid wetting foliage, and mulch lightly to buffer cool nights as temperatures drop.
The Harvest
Prioritize picking ripe fruit from Tomato varieties like Beefsteak and Brandywine, plus peppers such as Tabasco and Cascabel, before cold snaps. Harvest regularly to prevent cracking and to keep plants producing until frost.
Planting Schedule
Add crops from the list below to build your planting schedule.| Crop | Indoor Start | Transplant / Sow | Harvest Window | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artichoke | Feb 20th | May 1st | Sep 28th – Sep 1st | |
| Giant Red Celery | Feb 20th | Jun 26th | Sep 24th – Sep 1st | |
| Green Sleeves | Feb 20th | Jun 26th | Sep 24th – Sep 1st | |
| Gros Vert de Laon | Feb 20th | May 8th | Aug 6th – Sep 1st | |
| Verina | Feb 20th | Apr 3rd | Jul 12th – Sep 1st | |
| African Sunset | Mar 6th | May 15th | Aug 13th – Sep 1st | |
| Amsterdam | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 1st – Sep 1st | |
| Amsterdam Cutting | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 24th – Sep 1st | |
| Amsterdam Seasoning | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 17th – Sep 1st | |
| Artichaut de Nice | Mar 6th | May 8th | Sep 5th – Sep 1st | |
| Artichoke de Marseille | Mar 6th | Jun 26th | Sep 24th – Sep 1st | |
| Atlas Angel | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 17th – Sep 1st | |
| Baby Artichoke | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 1st – Sep 1st | |
| Balder | Mar 6th | May 15th | Aug 28th – Sep 1st | |
| Beijing White | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 27th – Sep 1st | |
| Bing Select | Mar 6th | May 1st | Jul 10th – Sep 1st | |
| Bordeaux | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 29th – Sep 1st | |
| Bullseye Salmon | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 17th – Sep 1st | |
| Carmen F1 | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 21st – Sep 1st | |
| Cascade Blue | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 24th – Sep 1st | |
| Catanese | Mar 6th | Jul 10th | Nov 7th – Sep 1st | |
| Celebration | Mar 6th | May 1st | Jul 20th – Sep 1st | |
| Celeriac | Mar 6th | May 1st | Jul 30th – Sep 1st | |
| Celery | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 22nd – Sep 1st | |
| Cherokee Sunset | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 24th – Sep 1st | |
| Cheyenne Spirit | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 6th – Sep 1st | |
| Chinese Pink | Mar 6th | Jun 26th | Sep 19th – Sep 1st | |
| Colossus | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 24th – Sep 1st | |
| Conquistador | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 1st – Sep 1st | |
| Copra | Mar 6th | May 1st | Aug 9th – Sep 1st |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the frost dates for Zone Zone 3a?
In Zone Zone 3a, the average last spring frost is May 15th and the average first fall frost is Sep 1st.
When is the best time to start seeds indoors in Zone Zone 3a?
The best time to start most seeds indoors is 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date of May 15th.
How long is the growing season in Zone Zone 3a?
Zone Zone 3a has a growing season of approximately 109 days.