Zone 7 - What to Plant in October

Zone 7 - What to Plant in October

Zone 7 growers still have time to plant some cool season vegetables before your first typical frost in mid-November. The earlier you start in October the better. Try direct sowing some kale, spinach, radish and other second season vegetables. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 7 in October.

The Prizehead Lettuce produces luscious slow bolting heads of loose, large green leaves with curled maroon tips. This variety is a popular lettuce for both home gardens and markets. Prizehead is truly a prize for its flavor being great in salads and sandwiches.

Tango Lettuce is a fun curled baby leaf lettuce variety! This lettuce has a crisp clean texture and holds up well with numerous salad dressings. This attractive uniform plant forms tight erect rosettes that are 12" across and 6-8" tall. Tango is an oak leaf variety.

The White Boston is a butterhead lettuce that is an improved Big Boston. This variety gives excellent yields of firm, round, 12" heads of crisp lettuce. The White Boston is a very delicious lettuce that is a bright light green with a buttery-yellow heart . This lettuce does well in warm conditions and is recommended for southern gardens.

The Crisp Mint Lettuce is a big romaine variety with mint green-colored leaves that will be sure to stand out in any home garden! This bold lettuce is only mint in color, not taste. However, its sweet and crunchy leaves will be a favorite addition to any salad or sandwich. Crisp Mint's heads will reach 10 inches tall making it perfect for a container garden!

Riverside is a smooth spinach with dark green leaves. Grown mostly for its spade-shaped baby leaf harvesting. Riverside produces at normal rates with an upright plant habit. Excellent for growers who want premium quality product. Riverside is also very resistant to downy mildew.

The Tom Thumb Lettuce is a tennis ball sized Bibb type with a great flavor! This slightly savory, bright green lettuce produces small compact heads that have slightly crumpled leaves with a sweet, delicate flavor. One head will make a salad for two! Tom Thumb will grow beautifully in small pots, window boxes, hanging baskets and planted under trees. This variety is the oldest American lettuce still grown, dating back to 1830's! This rare find is a good one!

Lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale, is a leafy green vegetable characterized by its long, dark green, crinkled leaves. The leaves have a distinctive bumpy texture and are often a deep, rich shade of green, sometimes with a bluish tint. They grow on tall, upright stalks and have a slightly sweeter and milder flavor compared to other kale varieties. This type of kale is prized for its versatility in the kitchen. It can be eaten raw in salads, blended into smoothies, sautéed, or added to soups and stews. Lacinato kale holds up well to cooking without losing its texture, making it a favorite for both chefs and home cooks alike. Nutritionally, it's packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and iron, making it a powerhouse of health benefits. Its striking appearance and robust flavor make Lacinato kale a standout choice for any dish!

Buttercrunch lettuce seeds produce a popular variety known for its crisp, tender leaves and sweet, buttery flavor. This heirloom variety features thick, light green leaves that form a loose, rosette shape, making it visually appealing in the garden and on the plate. Buttercrunch lettuce is known for its ability to tolerate heat better than many other lettuces, which allows for extended growing seasons. The leaves are slightly wavy and have a delicate texture, making them perfect for salads, sandwiches, and wraps. They also hold up well in dressings, adding a delightful crunch. When grown from seed, Buttercrunch lettuce typically germinates quickly, with seedlings developing into lush heads in a relatively short time. It thrives in cooler weather, making it an excellent choice for spring and fall gardens. Overall, Buttercrunch lettuce seeds offer a reliable and delicious option for home gardeners seeking to enjoy fresh, homegrown greens!

Great Lakes 118 lettuce is a classic butterhead variety that has gained popularity among gardeners since its introduction in the mid-20th century. Known for its compact, dense heads and vibrant green, slightly crinkled leaves, this lettuce offers a pleasing texture and rich, buttery flavor. The taste is mildly sweet and crisp, making it ideal for salads and sandwiches. Harvesting typically occurs around 60-75 days after planting, when the heads are firm and fully developed; gardeners can either cut the entire head or pick individual leaves as needed. Great Lakes 118 thrives in cooler temperatures and well-drained soil, making it a favorite choice for spring and fall planting, and it’s particularly valued for its ability to withstand heat and maintain flavor.

The Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea is one of our customer favorite peas! Produces an abundance of attractive purple and blue flowers. These flowers are edible, have a light pea flavor and look great on many dishes. The mature peas are very flavorful and is ideal for steaming, stir-frying or eating fresh out of the garden. Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea is suitable for northern and southern regions, as it is tolerant to heat and cold.

The Fiesta Blend is a five color radish blend of red, pink, yellow, white and purple! This colorful blend will be sure to a pop of fun color to any garden. Serving up the Fiesta Blend in salads or dishes is a great addition to any party or gathering!

The Romaine Trio Blend is a mixture of three of our specialty romaine lettuces. This tri-colored blend is very popular for not only its beautiful color variation and vigorous growth, but also for its delicious taste.

The Sugar Magnolia Pea is a beautiful deep purple colored sugar snap pea that is the result of over 15 years of development! This spectacular beauty has a very sweet flavor and is best before the pods get too fat. Make sure that this climbing variety has a trellis, as its sturdy vines reach to be 6-7 feet tall. Add the Sugar Magnolia to fresh salads or as a steamed side dish for a pop of color!

Little Gem lettuce is a small, compact variety that belongs to the Romaine family. Known for its tender, crisp leaves and sweet, mild flavor, it has become a favorite in both casual and fine dining. The heads are typically about the size of a fist, with tightly packed, bright green leaves that are both crunchy and delicate. Its flavor is a perfect balance between the slightly bitter taste of Romaine and the mild sweetness of Butterhead lettuce. Little Gem is often used in salads, sandwiches, or as a base for grilling, where its natural sweetness intensifies. Its small size also makes it an ideal choice for individual servings or garnishes. Rich in vitamins A, C, and K, it’s not only flavorful but also nutritious. Little Gem's heads are about 4 inches across and are prime eating from 4-6 inches tall. The plants can be spaced 6 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches for maximum yields. Growing Little Gem lettuce is relatively easy and well-suited to home gardeners, thriving in cool, temperate climates. This compact variety of lettuce prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter weather. It grows best in well-drained, fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. To plant, sow seeds directly into the soil in early spring or late summer, spacing them about 6-8 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation and growth. Little Gem lettuce thrives with regular watering, but it’s important to avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. As it matures, the small heads form tight, crisp rosettes. Harvesting can begin in around 30-45 days, typically when the heads are firm but still small. For continuous harvest, sow new seeds every couple of weeks. Little Gem lettuce is also ideal for container gardening due to its compact size, making it a great choice for small spaces or urban gardens.

The Green Salad Bowl is a decorative rosette type of lettuce with closely set crispy leaves. This looseleaf lettuce's crumpled leaves hold water very well, making it a popular variety!

The Royal Oakleaf is a long standing oak leaf lettuce that has good heat resistance. This variety develops beautiful rosettes of deeply lobed sea green leaves. Royal Oakleaf is an improved version of the standard oak leaf lettuce. The Royal Oakleaf has excellent flavor, crispness and tenderness that is one that cannot be beat!

The Bronze Mignonette has been a popular heirloom lettuce for over 100 years! This variety is a heat tolerant lettuce that is slow bolting. Bronze Mignette gets its name for having a bronze tint. The lettuce heads reach 8" across with crumply, crisp leaves. This variety looks and tastes in salads and on sandwiches.

The Winter Density Lettuce is a favorite cold weather Romaine! This variety produces compact, extra-dark green heads that are 8" tall and very tightly folded. The Winter Density gets its name for doing well in the cold weather!