When determining the best planting dates in the spring for seeds, the date of the last spring frost is important to your success. NOTE: Our chart calculates U.S. frost dates only, based on historical data. Other factors can also influence planting dates, including soil temperature, altitude and slope of land, nearby waters, and day length. Keep records of your garden's conditions each year to plan more accurately.
- Seeds for plants with a long growing season should be started indoors during the periods shown below.
- Seeds for plants sown in the ground should be planted during the periods shown.
- When no dates appear in the chart, that starting method is not recommended for the particular vegetable.
- To start transplants, see our Best Dates to Transplant (by region).
Planting by the Moon?
Above-ground crops are planted during the light of the Moon (new to full); below-ground crops are planted during the dark of the Moon (from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again). Planting is done in the daytime; planting at night is optional!
| Crop | Start Seeds Indoors | Moon-favorable Dates | Set Out Plants/ Start Seeds Outdoors | Moon-favorable Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beans | May 12-Jun 2 | May 12-14, May 28-Jun 2 | ||
| Beets | Apr 21-May 12 | Apr 21-27 | ||
| Broccoli | Mar 24-Apr 7 | Mar 30-Apr 7 | Apr 14-May 5 | Apr 14-15, Apr 29-May 5 |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 24-Apr 7 | Mar 30-Apr 7 | Apr 7-28 | Apr 7-15, Apr 28 |
| Cabbage | Mar 10-24 | Mar 10-16 | Apr 7-21 | Apr 7-15 |
| Carrots | Mar 31-Apr 14 | |||
| Cauliflower | Mar 24-Apr 7 | Mar 30-Apr 7 | Apr 7-21 | Apr 7-15 |
| Celery | Feb 23-Mar 10 | Mar 1-10 | May 12-26 | May 12-14 |
| Collards | Mar 24-Apr 7 | Mar 30-Apr 7 | Apr 7-28 | Apr 7-15, Apr 28 |
| Corn | May 5-19 | May 5-14 | ||
| Cucumbers | Apr 7-14 | Apr 7-14 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 28-Jun 9 |
| Eggplant | Feb 23-Mar 10 | Mar 1-10 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 28-Jun 9 |
| Kale | Mar 24-Apr 7 | Mar 30-Apr 7 | Apr 7-28 | Apr 7-15, Apr 28 |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 7-28 | Apr 7-15, Apr 28 | ||
| Leeks | Feb 23-Mar 10 | Mar 1-10 | Apr 7-28 | Apr 7-15, Apr 28 |
| Lettuce | Mar 24-Apr 7 | Mar 30-Apr 7 | Apr 21-May 19 | Apr 28-May 14 |
| Melons | Apr 7-14 | Apr 7-14 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 28-Jun 9 |
| Okra | May 19-Jun 2 | May 28-Jun 2 | ||
| Onion sets | Apr 7-28 | Apr 16-27 | ||
| Parsnips | Apr 14-May 5 | Apr 16-27 | ||
| Peas | Mar 24-Apr 14 | Mar 30-Apr 14 | ||
| Peppers | Feb 23-Mar 10 | Mar 1-10 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 28-Jun 9 |
| Potato tubers | Apr 28-May 19 | May 15-19 | ||
| Pumpkins | Apr 7-21 | Apr 7-15 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 28-Jun 9 |
| Radishes | Mar 10-31 | Mar 17-29 | ||
| Spinach | Mar 24-Apr 14 | Mar 30-Apr 14 | ||
| Squash | Apr 7-21 | Apr 7-15 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 28-Jun 9 |
| Sweet Potatoes | Apr 7-14 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 19-27 | |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 24-Apr 7 | Mar 30-Apr 7 | Apr 14-21 | Apr 14-15 |
| Tomatoes | Mar 10-24 | Mar 10-16 | May 12-Jun 2 | May 12-14, May 28-Jun 2 |
| Turnips | Apr 7-28 | Apr 16-27 | ||
| Watermelon | Apr 7-14 | Apr 7-14 | May 19-Jun 9 | May 28-Jun 9 |
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