Know when to expect your first harvest. Pick a crop or enter the days to maturity from the seed packet, add the planting date, and get the expected harvest date and picking window, plus a succession planting schedule checked against your first fall frost.
Last updated:
Days to maturity are typical ranges; your seed packet is the best source.
days
days
Succession planting
days
Flags plantings of frost-tender crops that won't finish in time.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Harvest Date Calculator
Enter the planting date: the day you sow seed outdoors or set out transplants.
Choose the crop, or pick Custom and type the days to maturity printed on the seed packet.
Tick fall planting for crops maturing in shortening autumn days.
Set up succession planting with an interval and number of sowings for a steady harvest.
Add your first fall frost date to see which plantings will finish in time.
Harvest date formula
Harvest date = planting date + days to maturity (+ 14 days for fall plantings). The harvest window runs from that date for as long as the crop keeps producing.
For succession planting, planting n = first planting + (n − 1) × interval, and each planting gets its own harvest date.
The last safe planting date is the first fall frost minus the days to maturity, minus extra time for the fall factor and picking.
Example: zucchini (45-60 days) sown June 1 is ready from about July 16, and keeps producing for around 8 weeks. Sown again on July 1, it is ready around August 15.
Days to maturity reference
Crop
Days to maturity
Counted from
Picking period
Frost tender
Radish
22-30 days
sowing
1 wk
no
Arugula
30-40 days
sowing
3 wk
no
Lettuce (leaf)
45-55 days
sowing
3 wk
no
Spinach
40-50 days
sowing
3 wk
no
Kale
50-65 days
sowing
8 wk
no
Peas
55-70 days
sowing
3 wk
no
Beet
50-70 days
sowing
3 wk
no
Carrot
60-80 days
sowing
3 wk
no
Bush beans
50-60 days
sowing
3 wk
yes
Pole beans
60-70 days
sowing
6 wk
yes
Cucumber
50-70 days
sowing
4 wk
yes
Zucchini / summer squash
45-60 days
sowing
8 wk
yes
Sweet corn
70-90 days
sowing
2 wk
yes
Winter squash
80-110 days
sowing
2 wk
yes
Pumpkin
90-120 days
sowing
2 wk
yes
Melon / watermelon
70-90 days
sowing
3 wk
yes
Tomato (from transplant)
60-85 days
transplant
8 wk
yes
Cherry tomato (from transplant)
55-70 days
transplant
10 wk
yes
Pepper (from transplant)
60-90 days
transplant
8 wk
yes
Eggplant (from transplant)
65-80 days
transplant
6 wk
yes
Broccoli (from transplant)
55-80 days
transplant
3 wk
no
Cabbage (from transplant)
60-90 days
transplant
2 wk
no
Onion (from sets)
80-100 days
sowing
2 wk
no
Potato
70-120 days
sowing
2 wk
no
Basil
50-70 days
sowing
10 wk
yes
Ranges cover early to late varieties under typical conditions. Use the number on your own seed packet for the most accurate date.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a harvest date?
Add the days to maturity to the planting date. Bush beans with 55 days to maturity sown on May 10 should be ready around July 4. Weather, variety and soil can shift this by a week or more either way.
What does days to maturity mean?
It is the typical number of days from planting until the first harvest. For crops usually direct-sown (beans, carrots, squash) it counts from sowing; for crops usually transplanted (tomatoes, peppers, cabbage) it counts from setting the transplant outside, not from sowing indoors.
What is the fall factor?
Crops maturing in autumn grow more slowly because days are shorter and cooler. Many gardeners add about 14 days to the days to maturity for fall plantings, which this calculator does when you tick the option.
What is succession planting?
Sowing small batches of the same crop every 1-3 weeks so you get a steady supply instead of one big harvest. It works best with quick crops that are picked once, like lettuce, radishes, bush beans, carrots and sweet corn.
How late can I plant before the first frost?
Count back from your first fall frost date by the days to maturity, plus about 14 days for the fall factor and some picking time for frost-tender crops. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and carrots can keep growing through light frosts.
Why is my harvest later than the seed packet says?
Cool weather, low light, poor soil, drought and transplant shock all slow growth. Days to maturity are measured under good conditions, so treat the date as the start of the window and check the plants for size and ripeness.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.