Choose your USDA hardiness zone, or enter your own average frost dates, to get a month-by-month vegetable and herb planting calendar: what to start indoors, what to transplant, what to sow directly, and what to plant for a fall harvest.
Pick your USDA zone. The typical last spring and first fall frost dates fill in automatically.
Adjust the frost dates if you know your local averages; the calendar switches to your own dates.
Filter the crops to cool-season, warm-season or herbs if you like.
Check “What to do now” for tasks due today or in the next two weeks.
Browse by month or by crop, and download the schedule as CSV to keep.
Typical frost dates by USDA zone
These are broad averages used to build the calendar. Real frost dates depend on elevation, distance to water and local terrain, so treat them as a starting point and replace them with local data when you can (your county extension office or a nearby weather station is the best source).
Zone
Average last spring frost
Average first fall frost
Approx. frost-free days
2
Early June
Early September
90
3
Late May
Mid-September
115
4
Mid-May
Late September
140
5
Late April to early May
Early to mid-October
165
6
Mid-April
Late October
185
7
Early April
Early November
210
8
Mid-March
Mid-November
245
9
Late February
Early December
290
10
Late January (frost is rare)
Late December (frost is rare)
330+
Within a zone, the colder “a” half usually has a later spring frost and an earlier fall frost than the milder “b” half.
Planting timing cheat sheet
When
What to do
10–12 weeks before last frost
Start onions, peppers, eggplant and parsley indoors
6–8 weeks before
Start tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and lettuce indoors
4–6 weeks before
Direct sow peas, spinach and radishes; set out cabbage and kale transplants
2–3 weeks before
Plant potatoes, carrots, beets and chard; set out broccoli and lettuce
Last frost to 3 weeks after
Transplant tomatoes and basil; sow beans, corn, cucumbers and squash
3–5 weeks after
Set out peppers, eggplant, melons, okra and sweet potato slips
12–14 weeks before first frost
Start or sow fall broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower
6–10 weeks before first frost
Sow fall lettuce, spinach, kale, beets, chard and radishes
Around the first frost
Plant garlic cloves for next summer
Tips for a better planting schedule
Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar. Peas sprout in soil around 40°F, while beans, squash and melons want 60–70°F.
Harden off seedlings. Give indoor-grown plants a week of gradually longer outdoor time before transplanting.
Sow in succession. Small sowings of lettuce, radishes and beans every 2–3 weeks spread the harvest out.
Protect early plantings. Row covers and cloches add a few degrees of frost protection on cold nights.
Keep notes. Recording what you planted and when makes next year’s calendar fit your own garden even better.
Frequently asked questions
How does a planting calendar by zone work?
Most planting advice is timed from the average last spring frost and the average first fall frost. Each USDA zone has typical frost dates, so the calendar counts weeks before or after those dates: for example tomatoes are started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and planted out 1 to 3 weeks after it.
Are USDA zones the same as frost dates?
No. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average coldest winter temperature, not on frost dates. Two places in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart, especially near coasts or mountains. The zone dates here are broad starting points, so enter your local frost dates if you know them.
What can I plant before the last frost?
Cool-season crops such as peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale, cabbage, onions and potatoes can go in 2 to 6 weeks before the average last frost, because they tolerate cool soil and light frost. Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash and basil should wait until after the last frost.
When should I plant a fall garden?
Count back from your average first fall frost. Fast crops like radishes and spinach can be sown 4 to 8 weeks before it, while broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower need about 12 to 14 weeks. Garlic is the exception: plant the cloves around the first frost for harvest the following summer.
What is the difference between direct sowing and transplanting?
Direct sowing means planting seed straight into the garden, which suits root crops, beans, corn and peas that dislike being moved. Transplanting means setting out seedlings you started indoors or bought, which gives slow crops like tomatoes, peppers and onions a head start in a short season.
What if my spring is colder than average?
Average frost dates mean there is still roughly a 50% chance of frost on or after that date. Watch the forecast, keep row covers handy, and in a cold spring or a low, frost-prone garden move warm-season plantings a week or two later.
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.