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When to Plant, by Zone

Your last frost date is the single most important number in gardening. Find your zone below to see your frost dates and a month-by-month planting calendar.

Quick Answer

Your last frost date is the key to timing everything. Count backward for seed-starting, plant after it for tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, beans), and count forward for your fall garden. Pick your zone below for your exact dates.

Your frost dates by zone

Zone	Last frost	First frost	Frost-free days	Plant outdoors
Zone 1a	early July	mid-July	14 days	See what to plant →
Zone 1b	mid-June	early August	47 days	See what to plant →
Zone 2a	late May	early September	98 days	See what to plant →
Zone 2b	mid-May	mid-September	122 days	See what to plant →
Zone 3a	mid-May	mid-September	123 days	See what to plant →
Zone 3b	early May	early October	153 days	See what to plant →
Zone 4a	late April	early October	163 days	See what to plant →
Zone 4b	mid-April	mid-October	183 days	See what to plant →
Zone 5a	mid-April	mid-October	183 days	See what to plant →
Zone 5b	early April	late October	197 days	See what to plant →
Zone 6a	early April	late October	213 days	See what to plant →
Zone 6b	mid-March	mid-November	244 days	See what to plant →
Zone 7a	early March	late November	258 days	See what to plant →
Zone 7b	late February	early December	276 days	See what to plant →
Zone 8a	mid-February	early December	288 days	See what to plant →
Zone 8b	late January	mid-December	319 days	See what to plant →
Zone 9a	late January	late December	333 days	See what to plant →
Zone 9b	mid-January	late December	348 days	See what to plant →
Zone 10a	rare frost	rare frost	330 days	See what to plant →
Zone 10b	virtually frost-free	virtually frost-free	345 days	See what to plant →
Zone 11a	no frost	no frost	365 days	See what to plant →
Zone 11b	no frost	no frost	365 days	See what to plant →
Zone 12a	no frost	no frost	365 days	See what to plant →
Zone 12b	no frost	no frost	365 days	See what to plant →
Zone 13a	no frost	no frost	365 days	See what to plant →
Zone 13b	no frost	no frost	365 days	See what to plant →

The month-by-month rule of thumb

Early spring (6–8 weeks before last frost)

Start seeds indoors: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower.

Last frost date (plant outdoors)

Direct-sow or transplant tender crops once the soil warms: beans, corn, squash, cucumbers, and harden off your seedlings.

2–3 weeks after last frost

Plant heat-lovers: sweet potatoes, okra, melons, and a second succession of beans and squash.

Mid-to-late summer

Sow a fall garden: kale, spinach, lettuce, carrots, beets, and radishes — timed to mature before your first frost.

Fall

Plant garlic and overwintering onions for next year's harvest.