Planting calendar
Enter your ZIP code to get personalized dates to start seeds, transplant, and harvest 20 common vegetables and herbs — based on your climate zone's frost dates. Free, instant, no signup.
Short answer
Plant by your last spring frost, not the calendar. Hardy crops (peas, spinach, kale) go in 3–6 weeks before the last frost; tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) must wait until after it. Start tomato seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost and transplant about 2 weeks after.
Hardy crops
before frost
peas, spinach
Tender crops
after frost
tomatoes, basil
Start tomatoes
−6 weeks
indoors
Crops covered
20
veg & herbs
Typical frost dates & growing season by climate zone
| Climate zone | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Jan 15 | Dec 20 | 339 days |
| Zone 2 | Feb 15 | Dec 5 | 293 days |
| Zone 3 | Mar 10 | Nov 25 | 260 days |
| Zone 4 | Mar 30 | Nov 10 | 225 days |
| Zone 5 | Apr 15 | Oct 25 | 193 days |
| Zone 6 | Apr 30 | Oct 10 | 163 days |
| Zone 7 | May 15 | Sep 25 | 133 days |
| Zone 8 | Jun 1 | Sep 5 | 96 days |
Zone 1 = hottest (near frost-free South), Zone 8 = coldest (short northern season). Typical 50%-probability dates — an unlucky year frosts two weeks either side. Enter your ZIP in the tool for your zone's schedule.
When to plant by crop
Planting calendar by state
How we calculate this
Every date on this page comes from the same frost-anchored math the calendar runs — the method every extension service teaches:
- Your frost dates. your ZIP maps to a climate zone, and each zone carries a typical last-spring-frost and first-fall-frost date (the table above) — the two anchors every planting date hangs on.
- Per-crop offsets. each crop has an offset from the frost anchor: tomatoes start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost and transplant 1–2 weeks after it; peas direct-sow 4 weeks before; garlic plants off the fall frost.
- Harvest window. transplant/sow date + the crop's days-to-maturity gives the harvest estimate, checked against the zone's growing-season length so short seasons flag crops that won't finish.
Assumptions
- Typical-year frost dates — microclimates (valleys, urban heat, elevation) shift them locally.
- Offsets assume common varieties; short-season cultivars can beat the days-to-maturity in the catalog.
- A soil thermometer beats any calendar for direct-sown warm crops like beans and corn.
Sources
Last reviewed: July 13, 2026
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Frequently asked questions
When should I start planting my garden?
It depends on your last spring frost date, not the calendar month. Cold-hardy crops like peas, spinach, and lettuce can go in the ground several weeks before the last frost. Tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil should be started indoors early and only planted out after all danger of frost has passed. Enter your ZIP above to see dates for each crop.
How do I find my frost dates?
Your ZIP code maps to a climate zone, and each zone has a typical average last spring frost and first fall frost. This tool looks yours up automatically. Real dates vary by microclimate and year, so treat them as a planning guide and watch the forecast.
When do I start seeds indoors?
For crops that benefit from a head start — tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, onions — start seeds indoors about 6 to 10 weeks before your last frost, then transplant after it. The calculator gives an indoor-start date for each crop that needs one.
What can I plant before the last frost?
Hardy and semi-hardy crops: peas, spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets, onions, and potatoes all tolerate cool soil and light frost, so they can be sown weeks before the last frost. This lets you start the season early and get a jump on harvest.