8 Things You Can Still Plant in October Before the First Frost

Fruit Trees

Autumn is the perfect time to plant young fruit trees. Fruit trees reach a state of dormancy at the end of the growing season, so they can be put in the ground with little to no transplanting stress. Make sure you dig a hole roughly three times the size of the pot, then re-backfill with loosened soil to help give the roots plenty of room to expand. 

• Zones: varies; often zones 3 to 8
• Size: varies; roughly 30 feet tall x 30 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; plenty of water; well-drained soil

Tulips

If you’ve ever wanted to bring the beauty of a tulip (Tulipa) festival into your garden, the work starts in autumn. The specific month for planting tulip bulbs depends on your growing zone, but October is an ideal month in Zones 4 through 7. Already have tulips planted in your garden? Author and podcast host Kathy Jentz suggests applying azomite to old bulb plantings to replace the trace minerals in the soil that get depleted over time. "Azomite is a rock powder containing over 67 minerals beneficial to all plants," she says.

• Zones: for October planting, Zones 4 through 7
• Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moderate water; well-drained soil

Crocus

As other garden perennials slowly awaken from their winter slumber, crocus (Crocus vernus) is the early bird that appears long before the others. If you like the idea of seeing these bright and cheery blooms even before the snow has melted in spring, then don’t delay and get those corms in the ground now. They’ll be a welcome sight in a few months.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 5 inches tall x 3 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moderate water; well-drained soil

Daffodils

Think all daffodils (Narcissus) are the same? Think again. This plant includes varieties in different sizes, styles, and colors. Since daffodil bulbs do best when planted in the fall, try experimenting with some new daffodils right now. "I always add a new-to-me variety of daffodils," says Jentz. "I have over a hundred kinds in my garden and there is always room for more—from the tall singles to the miniatures—they are deer-proof, reliable, and increase each year." Plant varieties that bloom at different times, so you have daffodils in your garden all season long.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 20 inches tall x 10 to 20 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moderate water; rich well-drained soil

Hardneck Garlic

Growing garlic (Allium sativum) is a rewarding endeavor. Every clove you put in the ground has the potential to become a whole new bulb. But you have to get started at the right time—and that time is October. Hardneck garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon) is planted in the fall, allowing the bulbs to happily bide their time and wait in the soil through winter before charging up at the first hint of spring.

When asked about her favorite bulb to plant in October, Jentz says: "Garlic! It is not an ornamental, but it is the one bulb I plant every year around Halloween for a good crop next year." 

• Zones: 1 to 6 (for hardneck garlic; softneck varieties can be cultivated in warmer zones)
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 foot wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moderate water; well-drained soil.

Peonies

It’s possible to plant peonies (Paeonia spp.) in the spring when the growing season kicks off, but you’ll likely have an easier time if you do it now in October. "I recommend you plant peonies in the fall to get established before the winter," says Jentz. "It is fine to also plant them in the spring, you just may not get blooms during that first year after planting."

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: Approximately 3 feet tall x 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moderate water; rich well-drained soil

Maple Trees

As with fruit trees, many other trees benefit from being planted in fall, including maples (Acer). Get your saplings off to a good start by planting in October, then support them during the post-planting period by providing ample water until winter arrives. You may also want to wrap your young trees with tree guard to protect them from hungry rodents during winter.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 40 to 70 feet tall x 35 to 50 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; ample water; well-drained soil

Asparagus

Growing asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) requires a lot of patience because it’s a multi-year process from planting to harvesting. But once your plants are established, these perennial vegetables will keep on producing year after year, blessing you with bounty. Asparagus is most often planted in October via crowns and you’ll want to follow planting instructions carefully to get your asparagus plants off to a strong start. 

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: Up to 8 feet tall x 5 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moderate water; well-drained soil