October is a great time to plant a variety of plants, including spring-blooming bulbs, hardy vegetables, and shrubs. Here are some plants that can be planted in October:

• Flowers: Fall flowers such as crocus, asters, dianthus, and violas can be planted in October.

• Vegetables: Root vegetables like beets, radishes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, and rutabaga can be planted from seed this month. Leafy greens and Brassicas like lettuces, spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and cauliflower can be planted from transplant. Garlic is a vegetable that can be planted in the fall for a larger and earlier harvest next spring.

• Fruit Trees: Bare root fruit trees can be planted in October, which is when deciduous plants are lifted from the ground while they are leafless and dormant with no leaves.

• Shrubs: Fall is a great time to plant shrubs and trees because the cooler temperatures of autumn aren’t as stressful on plants. For example, plant forsythia and lilacs for spring color and hydrangeas and butterfly bushes for summer color.

Its important to check your USDA hardiness zone to determine which plants to prioritize in your garden. Gardening zones are geographical areas divided up by climate that farmers and gardeners use to determine where different species of plants will thrive best.