Seasonal Planting Calendar by Zone: What to Plant Every Month
This is the master reference for when to plant vegetables in the US. It covers zones 3 through 10 — which is about 95% of gardeners — and breaks down each month by what you should be starting indoors, sowing directly, transplanting, or harvesting.
Not sure which zone you're in? Check our USDA hardiness zone guide or enter your zip in our planting calendar tool.
Zones 3–4 (Northern US: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, Vermont)
Last frost: May 1–June 1 · First frost: Sept 1–Oct 1 · Growing season: 100–130 days
| Month | Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Plan & order seeds | — | — | — |
| February | Onions, leeks, celery | — | — | — |
| March | Peppers, eggplant, tomatoes (late) | — | — | — |
| April | Squash, melons, cucumbers | Peas, spinach (late April, zone 4) | — | — |
| May | — | Lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets, beans (after frost) | Broccoli, cabbage, kale (early May) | — |
| June | — | Beans, corn, squash (zone 3) | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant | Radishes, lettuce |
| July | — | Fall lettuce, radishes (late July) | — | Peas, lettuce, beets |
| August | — | Spinach for fall | — | Beans, cucumbers, early tomatoes |
| September | — | Garlic (late Sept) | — | Tomatoes, peppers, squash, corn |
| October | — | Garlic (zone 3) | — | Root vegetables, kale, late squash |
| Nov–Dec | — | — | — | Storage crops from root cellar |
Zones 5–6 (Central US: Chicago, Denver, St. Louis, Nashville)
Last frost: April 1–May 1 · First frost: Oct 1–Nov 1 · Growing season: 140–175 days
| Month | Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Plan & order seeds | — | — | — |
| February | Onions, peppers, eggplant | — | — | — |
| March | Tomatoes, herbs, squash (late) | Peas, spinach, lettuce (zone 6) | — | — |
| April | — | Radishes, carrots, beets, lettuce, peas | Broccoli, cabbage, kale | — |
| May | — | Beans, corn, squash, cucumbers (after frost) | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant | Lettuce, radishes, spinach |
| June | — | Succession lettuce, beans | — | Peas, strawberries |
| July | — | Fall beets, carrots, beans, kale | — | Beans, cucumbers, early tomatoes |
| August | — | Spinach, lettuce, radishes for fall | Fall broccoli, cabbage | Tomatoes, peppers, corn, melons |
| September | — | Garlic | — | Squash, late tomatoes, beans |
| October | — | Garlic (zone 5) | — | Root vegetables, kale, fall greens |
| Nov–Dec | — | — | — | Kale (frost-sweetened), storage crops |
Detailed guides: Tomatoes zone 5 · Tomatoes zone 6 · March planting · April planting · May planting
Zones 7–8 (Southern US: Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, Raleigh)
Last frost: March 1–April 1 · First frost: Nov 1–Dec 1 · Growing season: 190–240 days
| Month | Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Peppers, eggplant, tomatoes (zone 8) | Peas, spinach (zone 8) | — | Overwintered kale, spinach |
| February | Tomatoes, herbs | Peas, lettuce, radishes, carrots | Broccoli, cabbage (zone 8) | — |
| March | — | Beans (late), beets, chard | Tomatoes (zone 8), broccoli, kale | Lettuce, radishes |
| April | — | Beans, corn, squash, cucumbers | Tomatoes, peppers | Peas, broccoli, cabbage |
| May | — | Sweet potatoes, melons, okra | — | Strawberries, early beans |
| June | — | Succession beans, squash | — | Tomatoes, cucumbers, beans |
| July | Fall tomatoes (zone 8) | Fall beans, squash | — | Tomatoes, peppers, corn, melons |
| August | — | Kale, broccoli, lettuce, carrots | Fall tomatoes (zone 8) | Okra, peppers, sweet potatoes |
| September | — | Spinach, peas, radishes, garlic (late) | Broccoli, cabbage | Fall beans, squash |
| October | — | Garlic, overwintering onions | — | Sweet potatoes, fall greens |
| Nov–Dec | — | Cover crops | — | Kale, chard, root vegetables, fall lettuce |
Detailed guides: Tomatoes zone 7 · Tomatoes zone 8 · Fall planting zone 7 · Fall garden guide
Zones 9–10 (Gulf Coast, Southern Florida, Southern California)
Last frost: Feb 15 or frost-free · First frost: Dec 15 or frost-free · Growing season: 260–365 days
| Month | Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | Peas, lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets | Tomatoes, peppers (zone 10) | Citrus, winter greens |
| February | — | Beans, corn, squash, cucumbers | Tomatoes, peppers | Lettuce, radishes |
| March | — | Melons, okra, sweet potatoes | Eggplant | Peas, carrots, broccoli |
| April–May | — | Sweet potatoes, southern peas | — | Tomatoes, beans, cucumbers |
| June–Aug | — | Heat-tolerant: okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes | — | Tomatoes (early), peppers, okra, melons |
| September | — | Beans, cucumbers, squash (fall round) | Tomatoes (fall) | Sweet potatoes |
| Oct–Nov | — | Lettuce, spinach, peas, carrots, beets, broccoli, kale | Broccoli, cabbage | Fall beans, peppers |
| December | — | Cool-season crops continue | — | Fall/winter greens, root vegetables |
Quick Tips for Using This Calendar
- Microclimates matter. South-facing walls, raised beds, and urban heat islands can shift your effective zone by half a zone warmer.
- Succession plant lettuce, radishes, and beans every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest.
- "After frost" means after your last frost date, not after the last cold day. Soil temperature matters too — tomatoes need 60°F+ soil.
- Use row covers to extend your season 2–4 weeks in either direction.
- Always check companion planting compatibility when planning your layout.
🗓️ Get personalized dates for your zip code: Use our free Planting Calendar Tool — automatically calculates planting windows for 40+ crops based on your exact location.
Planting windows based on USDA hardiness zone data, NOAA frost date averages, and cooperative extension service recommendations. Updated March 2026.
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