Zone 5 - What to Plant in October

Zone 5 - What to Plant in October

Zone 5 growers typically have their first frost in mid-October. So going into October there isn't much that can be planted going into decreasing temperatures. There are still a few items that can be planted with success. Garlic, turnips and cover crops can still be successfully planted. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 5 in October.

Spanish Roja garlic is a certified, early season garlic harvest! This variety is a gourmet best-selling garlic for home gardens with an excellent classic rich flavor! Each bulb has about 8-12 cloves. Spanish Roja's outer wrapper varies in color, from a rich cream to deep purple stripes. Its cloves are large with a brownish red color and are easy to peel. This garlic keeps well, 4-6 months. During curing, many bulbs lose their stems. Approximately 8-12 cloves/ bulb. Approximately 65-85 garlic cloves/ pound.

California Early is an excellent planting garlic variety that produces bulbs great for culinary use and is an early season garlic harvest! This variety is likely the most commonly grown variety in the U.S., and for good reason. It is a medium, easy to grow softneck, with a nice mild flavor and excellent storage ability. Cal-Early is one of our "work-horse" varieties we depend on, year after year, for fresh market and garlic braiding. The skins are a nice off-white with a purple blush and it produces 10-16 cloves per head.

Music garlic is a "Garlic Lovers" garlic! This garlic variety is prized for it's mild flavor and ease of peeling. Its flavor is well developed without any bitterness, and it does not disappear when cooked. Just one clove can add so much flavor to any recipe, so it is time-saving! This variety keeps well until April or May when stored properly. Most bulbs average 4-5 cloves.

The Golden Ball Turnip is a perfectly round, beautiful, eye catching golden turnip with a deliciously wonderful peppery taste! This turnip variety was introduced prior to 1859 and is still going strong! This is one turnip that you will want in your garden for its perfectly shaped 3-4" amber globes.

Majestic garlic is a hardneck porcelain variety that is discovered by Beaver Pond Estates. This variety is a porcelain garlic so it does best in colder climates and develops large bulbs with a mild flavor. This garlic will mature later in the season and has excellent storage life.

Ajo Rojo garlic has a delicious mild and creamy flavor. This variety comes from Spain and is very similar to the Creole Red but is a beautiful and distinctive garlic. The Ajo Rojo is mild and creamy when baked, but watch out if consuming raw - the heat comes on slowly and builds to intense!

The Nootka Rose garlic is certified, and has a strong and aggressive flavor great for cooking. The Nootka Rose garlic was created on a farm in Washington State. The cloves have a dark coloration that are typically brown with red streaks. The Nootka Rose's bulbs tend to yield anywhere from 15-24 cloves each. This variety is a very long storing silverskin garlic. Approximately 12-15 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 15-24 cloves per bulb.

Lorz Italian garlic, known for its exceptional flavor and culinary versatility, is a beloved garlic variety that hails from Italy. It is renowned for its unique characteristics that set it apart from other garlic varieties. Lorz Italian garlic typically produces medium to large-sized bulbs, often ranging from 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6.4 centimeters) in diameter. These bulbs are composed of multiple cloves, typically numbering between 8 to 12 cloves per bulb. One of the standout features of Lorz Italian garlic is its distinct flavor profile. It boasts a rich and robust garlic flavor with a subtle, sweet undertone, making it a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike. Its cloves are easy to peel and have a slightly spicy kick, which adds depth and complexity to a wide range of dishes. Lorz Italian garlic is versatile in the kitchen, lending its bold flavor to sauces, soups, roasted dishes, and more. Gardeners and garlic enthusiasts often appreciate Lorz Italian garlic for its adaptability to various growing conditions and climates. It can thrive in both cold and warm regions, making it a reliable choice for home gardeners looking to cultivate their garlic crop. With its generous number of cloves per bulb, Lorz Italian garlic is a popular choice for those who enjoy growing their garlic and harvesting bulbs with plenty of individual cloves for planting or culinary use.

Creme de la Rasa garlic is a hardneck variety that produces large, plump purple cloves! It is mild in heat, but rich in flavor. It is known to be hardy in the field, making it ideal for farmers! It is one of the several purple striped varieties we are offering this season!

Leningrad garlic, also known as Russian Red garlic or Allium sativum 'Leningrad,' is a distinctive garlic variety renowned for its robust flavor and impressive adaptability. This heirloom garlic hails from the city of Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in Russia. It is characterized by its large, purple-striped bulbs and rich, complex flavor profile. Leningrad garlic is classified as a hardneck garlic, meaning it produces a woody central stalk called a scape, which can be harvested and used in culinary applications as well. One of the standout features of Leningrad garlic is its ability to thrive in colder climates. It is well-suited for regions with harsh winters, making it a favorite among northern gardeners. The cloves are typically planted in the fall and harvested in mid-summer the following year. Leningrad garlic is appreciated for its strong, spicy flavor with a hint of sweetness, which intensifies when roasted. Its cloves are easy to peel, making it a convenient choice for home cooks and chefs alike.

The Mild French garlic is a bold flavored garlic that is quick growing. This garlic variety was first bred by Porter & Sons seedhouse. The Mild French can be grown throughout the United States, even taking the stiff heat of far Southern areas. Its plants grow taller and mature more quickly than most other members of the Silverskin family. Mild French's bulbs will yield an average of 12-14 cloves. The flavor of the Mild French varies a bit based on the climate. This garlic offers a bold flavor that has greater heat the further north it’s grown! Mild French is a very long storing silverskin garlic up to a year. Approximately 12-15 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 12-14 cloves per bulb.

The German Extra Hardy garlic is a prolific producer of long rooted garlic that can store in the ground throughout winter. This variety has pale white skin with dark red cloves. The German Extra Hardy has a strong raw flavor and high sugar content, making it one of the very best for roasting. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb.

The Purple Glazer is an excellent purple striped garlic. This amazing variety hails from the Republic of Georgia. Purple Glazer produces fat white cloves with deep purple streaks. The Purple Glazer has a strong flavor with no heat and a very minimal aftertaste.

The Montana Giant garlic has a full and robust taste that sets it apart from other garlics. It can pack a punch of high heat that quickly melts away. Montana Giant is a hardneck Rocambole that produces large cloves that are easy to peel and great to cook with. Averages 5-7 cloves per bulb.

The Susan Delafield is a dazzling hardneck Porcelain variety that produces delicious and attractive purplish-pink cloves. This garlic has a delicious spicy flavor and will store well for up to 8-9 months. This variety is perfect for northern climates and is acclimated to moist conditions. The Susan Delafield averages 4-6 cloves per bulb.

Chamisal Wild is a hot and spicy garlic with cloves that are deep red! This variety can reach up to 3" in diameter, loves cold winters and matures late in the season. The Chamisal Wild was first discovered on the creek banks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico.

The Amish Rocambole garlic is certified with a very strong and hot flavor! Amish Rocambole (aka Amish White or Amish) has a pungently hot and lingering flavor. A lively growing cultivar, the Amish Rocambole grows better in areas that have cold winters. Approximately 10 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 8-10 cloves per bulb.

California Late is the most commonly used garlic in the United States. This variety produces large bulbs with 12-16 good size cloves. California Late is more on the hot side with a classic garlic flavor. California Late is later maturing than California Early, as it ripens in July. It stores for about 8-12 months. California Late is a really great all around use garlic that is also excellent for baking.