Timing is Everything in Vegetable Gardening
Knowing when to plant vegetables is the difference between a thriving garden and disappointment. Plant too early and frost kills your seedlings. Plant too late and heat stunts growth or plants don't mature before fall frost.
Every vegetable has an ideal planting window based on your USDA Hardiness Zone, last spring frost, first fall frost, and soil temperature. This guide provides exact planting dates for every zone, plus the knowledge to adjust timing for your specific microclimate.
With proper timing, you can harvest fresh vegetables from early spring through late fall - and year-round in mild climates. Some gardeners using succession planting and season extension harvest something fresh every single day of the year!
Understanding USDA Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones tell you the average annual minimum winter temperature for your area. While designed for perennial plants, they're essential for vegetable timing:
Zone Temperature Ranges:
- Zone 3: -40 to -30°F (Very short season, 90-120 frost-free days)
- Zone 4: -30 to -20°F (Short season, 120-150 frost-free days)
- Zone 5: -20 to -10°F (Medium season, 150-180 frost-free days)
- Zone 6: -10 to 0°F (Medium-long season, 180-210 frost-free days)
- Zone 7: 0 to 10°F (Long season, 210-240 frost-free days)
- Zone 8: 10 to 20°F (Very long season, 240-270 frost-free days)
- Zone 9: 20 to 30°F (Nearly year-round, 270-320 frost-free days)
- Zone 10: 30 to 40°F (Year-round growing, 320-365 frost-free days)
Finding Your Zone:
Enter your ZIP code at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov for your exact zone. Note that cities often have microclimates 1/2 to 1 zone warmer than surrounding areas.
Critical Frost Dates for Planting
Your planting schedule revolves around two critical dates:
- Last Spring Frost Date: The average date of the last killing frost (32°F) in spring. Plant tender crops AFTER this date.
- First Fall Frost Date: The average date of the first killing frost in fall. Calculate backwards from this for fall planting.
- 10% Risk Dates: For valuable crops, use the date with only 10% chance of frost for extra safety.
- Soil Temperature: More important than air temperature. Seeds won't germinate in cold soil even if air is warm.
- Microclimates: South-facing slopes, near buildings, or water can be 1-2 weeks earlier/later than average.
- Climate Change: Frost dates are shifting. Track your actual dates for 3-5 years for personal data.
Master Planting Schedule by Crop Type
General planting times relative to your last frost date:
| Crop Group | Indoor Start | Direct Sow | Transplant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very Hardy (25°F) | Not needed | 4-6 weeks before | N/A | Peas, spinach, onions, lettuce |
| Hardy (28°F) | 8-10 weeks before | 2-3 weeks before | 2-3 weeks before | Broccoli, cabbage, carrots |
| Tender (32°F) | 6-8 weeks before | On last frost date | After last frost | Tomatoes start indoors only |
| Very Tender (40°F+) | 4-6 weeks before | 1-2 weeks after | 2-3 weeks after | Peppers, squash, melons |
| Heat Lovers (50°F+ soil) | 4 weeks before | 2-3 weeks after | 3-4 weeks after | Beans, corn, cucumbers |
| Fall Crops | 12-14 weeks before first frost | 10-12 weeks before | 8-10 weeks before | Count backwards from fall |
Zone-Specific Planting Calendars
Zone 3-4 (Short Season):
- Last Frost: May 15-30
- First Frost: September 15-30
- Strategy: Start everything indoors, use row covers, focus on fast-maturing varieties
- Key Dates: Start tomatoes indoors March 15, transplant June 1
Zone 5-6 (Medium Season):
- Last Frost: April 15-30
- First Frost: October 15-30
- Strategy: Good balance of direct sowing and transplants
- Key Dates: Start cool crops March 1, warm crops indoors March 15
Zone 7-8 (Long Season):
- Last Frost: March 15-April 15
- First Frost: November 15-December 15
- Strategy: Two full growing seasons (spring and fall), summer break for some crops
- Key Dates: Spring garden February-March, Fall garden August-September
Zone 9-10 (Year-Round):
- Last Frost: January-February (if any)
- First Frost: December (if any)
- Strategy: Avoid summer heat for cool-season crops, grow heat-lovers May-October
- Key Dates: Cool season October-March, Warm season April-September
Month-by-Month Planting Guide
January:
- Zones 3-6: Plan garden, order seeds
- Zones 7-8: Plant onions, lettuce under cover
- Zones 9-10: Full cool-season planting
February:
- Zones 3-6: Start onions, celery indoors
- Zones 7-8: Direct sow peas, spinach
- Zones 9-10: Plant potatoes, continue cool crops
March:
- Zones 3-6: Start tomatoes, peppers indoors
- Zones 7-8: Transplant cool-season starts
- Zones 9-10: Last chance for cool crops
April:
- Zones 3-6: Plant peas, lettuce outdoors
- Zones 7-8: Plant warm-season crops
- Zones 9-10: Transition to warm season
May:
- Zones 3-6: Main planting month after frost
- Zones 7-8: Succession plant, mulch heavily
- Zones 9-10: Heat-lovers only
June:
- Zones 3-6: Succession plant, tend garden
- Zones 7-8: Harvest spring crops, water deeply
- Zones 9-10: Maintain and harvest
July:
- All Zones: Start fall crop seeds
- Hot zones: Provide shade for sensitive crops
- Begin planning fall garden
August:
- Zones 3-6: Last beans/squash, plant fall crops
- Zones 7-10: Major fall planting month
September:
- Zones 3-6: Harvest and preserve, plant garlic
- Zones 7-10: Continue fall planting
October:
- Zones 3-6: Final harvest, prepare for winter
- Zones 7-10: Peak fall garden
November:
- Zones 3-6: Mulch and cover crops
- Zones 7-10: Continue harvesting
December:
- Zones 3-8: Planning and maintenance
- Zones 9-10: Continue cool-season growing
Succession Planting for Continuous Harvest
Plant small amounts frequently for continuous harvest:
- Lettuce: Plant 4-6 plants every 2 weeks from early spring through fall. Summer varieties handle heat better.
- Beans: Plant new row every 2-3 weeks until 10 weeks before first frost. Provides fresh beans all season.
- Radishes: Plant weekly in spring and fall. Ready in 3-4 weeks. Skip hot summer months.
- Carrots: Plant every 3 weeks spring through mid-summer. Fall carrots are sweetest after frost.
- Corn: Plant blocks 2 weeks apart for extended harvest. Different maturity dates spread harvest.
- Beets: Plant monthly spring through late summer. Fall beets store well in ground.
- Cilantro: Plant every 2-3 weeks. Bolts quickly in heat. Grow in shade during summer.
Soil Temperature Requirements
Seeds need proper soil temperature to germinate:
| Temperature | Crops | Days to Germination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-40°F | Lettuce, onions, peas | 14-21 days | Very slow but possible |
| 40-50°F | Spinach, radish, carrots | 7-14 days | Cool season crops ideal range |
| 50-60°F | Beets, chard, cabbage family | 5-10 days | Best for most spring crops |
| 60-70°F | Tomatoes, peppers, squash | 5-7 days | Warm season minimum |
| 70-80°F | Beans, corn, cucumbers | 3-5 days | Optimal for heat lovers |
| 80-90°F | Melons, okra, southern peas | 3-5 days | Hot weather crops |
Season Extension Techniques
Start Earlier in Spring:
- Use black plastic to warm soil 2 weeks early
- Wall O' Water around tomatoes for 6-week head start
- Cold frames allow planting 4-6 weeks earlier
- Row covers add 2-4°F protection
Extend into Fall/Winter:
- Plant cold-hardy varieties in late summer
- Use row covers when frost threatens
- Mulch root vegetables heavily for ground storage
- Succession plant until 6 weeks before first frost
Year-Round Growing:
- Unheated greenhouse: Extend by 1-2 months each end
- Heated greenhouse or grow lights: True year-round
- Cold frames: Grow salad greens all winter in Zone 6+
- Indoor sprouting and microgreens: Any climate, any time
Adapting to Climate Change
Traditional planting dates are shifting. Adapt with these strategies:
- **Track Your Own Data**: Record actual frost dates for 5 years. Create personal planting calendar.
- **Plant Resilient Varieties**: Choose heat and drought-tolerant varieties. Many new varieties handle extremes.
- **Use Mulch Heavily**: Moderates soil temperature and moisture. Essential for unpredictable weather.
- **Diversify Planting Dates**: Don't plant everything at once. Spread risk across several plantings.
- **Provide Shade**: Use shade cloth during heat waves. 30% shade can save heat-stressed crops.
- **Improve Soil**: Better soil handles weather extremes. Add organic matter annually.
Quick Planting Reference
Print this quick reference for easy planning:
- 🥶 **6 Weeks Before Last Frost**: Start tomatoes, peppers indoors
- ❄️ **4 Weeks Before**: Direct sow peas, plant onion sets
- 🌤️ **2 Weeks Before**: Direct sow lettuce, spinach, radishes
- ☀️ **On Last Frost Date**: Transplant cabbage family
- 🌡️ **1 Week After**: Plant potatoes
- 🏖️ **2 Weeks After**: Transplant tomatoes, direct sow beans
- 🔥 **3 Weeks After**: Plant heat lovers (melons, okra)
- 🍂 **10 Weeks Before First Frost**: Start fall brassicas
- 🍁 **6 Weeks Before First Frost**: Direct sow fall greens