Oct

Last spring frost mid-April. First fall frost mid-October. A ridge runs colder than a hollow. Treat dates as a week either way, not a promise.

Sow
Plant garlic and shallot
Mid-October is the classic 6b line. Point up, two inches of soil, mulch after the ground chills.
Garlic · Onion
Protect
First frost is mid-month — lift dahlia, pot jasmine and geranium
A black top is your cue. Cure tubers a day, then a dry cellar.
Dahlia · Arabian jasmine · Rose geranium · Sweet basil
Harvest
Winter squash, last tomato under cloth, kale sweetens
A kiss of frost is a gift to brassicas and a death to basil.
Pumpkin · Kale · Spinach
Cut
Last zinnia and marigold before they go to mush
Seed a few heads of cosmos and sunflower for finches and next year.
Zinnia · French marigold · Cosmos · Sunflower

Also in leaf or flower

Ginger · Turmeric · Purple coneflower · Valerian · Garlic · Calendula · Ashwagandha · Nettle · Dandelion · Hawthorn · Licorice · Kava · Goldenseal · Lion's mane · Turkey tail · Cordyceps · Shiitake · Marshmallow · Witch hazel · Maitake · Snow fungus · Oyster mushroom · Burdock · Dog rose · Enoki · Wood ear · Gotu kola · Astragalus · Chaste tree · Oregon grape · Chickweed · Cinnamon · King oyster · Almond mushroom · Poria · Cilantro · Bay laurel · Chives · Green cardamom · Asian ginseng · Clove · Juniper · Button mushroom · Saffron · Black pepper · Nutmeg · Horseradish · Brown mustard · Star anise · Eleuthero · Schisandra · Vanilla · Olive · Cacao · Coffee · Allspice · Galangal · Curry leaf · Sorrel · Watercress · Maca · Cramp bark · Eucalyptus · Tea tree · Neem · Amla · Nameko · Pioppino · Autumn crocus · Tomato · Potato · Sweet potato · Carrot · Beet · Cabbage · Kale · Broccoli · Spinach · Pumpkin · Pea · Apple · Grape · Pomegranate · Lemon · Banana · Avocado · Pineapple · Dragon fruit · Passion fruit · Starfruit · Cherimoya · Persimmon · Kiwi · Guava · Taro · Cassava · Heartsease · Garland chrysanthemum · Dahlia · French marigold · Cosmos · Sweet alyssum

Ginger · Turmeric · Purple coneflower · Valerian · Garlic · Calendula · Ashwagandha · Nettle

The Herbarium — a teaching catalog, not a clinic. Traditional use is history, not a prescription. USDA 6b dates are a week either way, not a promise. Do not eat, drink, or harvest a plant you cannot name.