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USDA zone 4a planting guide

A typical location in zone 4a sees its last spring frost around May 12 and its first fall frost around September 28. Pick a crop for its zone 4a planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.

Get my ZIP-level calendarMonth-by-month for zone 4a

The zone 4a planting year

When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 4alocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall plantingHarvest

Junethis month

Fall planting· 3

Harvest· 5

Planting calendar for Zone 4a typical: sow, transplant, and harvest windows by crop.
CropActivityWhen
TomatoStart indoorsMarch 31 – April 7
TomatoTransplantMay 12 – May 26
PepperStart indoorsMarch 17
PepperTransplantMay 12 – May 26
EggplantStart indoorsMarch 17
EggplantTransplantMay 12 – May 26
PotatoDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
CucumberStart indoorsApril 14
CucumberTransplantMay 12 – May 26
CucumberDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
ZucchiniDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
ZucchiniHarvestJuly 6 – July 20 (About 55 to 55 days from sowing.)
Winter SquashDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
PumpkinDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
PumpkinHarvestJuly 21 – September 23 (About 70 to 120 days from sowing.)
WatermelonTransplantMay 12 – May 26
WatermelonDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
WatermelonHarvestAugust 5 – August 24 (About 85 to 90 days from transplanting.)
CantaloupeTransplantMay 12 – May 26
CantaloupeDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
Sweet CornDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
Sweet CornHarvestJuly 11 – August 24 (About 60 to 90 days from sowing.)
BroccoliStart indoorsMarch 3 – March 17
BroccoliTransplantApril 21 – April 28
BroccoliDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
CauliflowerStart indoorsMarch 10 – March 24
CauliflowerTransplantApril 28 – May 5
CauliflowerDirect sowApril 28 – May 5
CauliflowerFall plantingJuly 20 – August 24
CabbageStart indoorsMarch 3 – March 17
CabbageTransplantApril 21 – April 28
CabbageDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
CabbageFall plantingJuly 20 – August 24
Brussels SproutsFall plantingJune 1
KaleStart indoorsFebruary 24 – March 10
KaleTransplantApril 7 – April 14
KaleDirect sowApril 7 – April 14
KaleFall plantingJuly 27 – August 31
CollardsStart indoorsMarch 17
CollardsTransplantApril 28
CollardsDirect sowApril 21
CollardsHarvestJune 20 – July 10 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
CollardsFall plantingJune 29
LettuceStart indoorsMarch 31 – April 7
LettuceTransplantMay 12
LettuceDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
LettuceFall plantingJune 29 – August 3
SpinachStart indoorsMarch 31 – April 7
SpinachTransplantMay 12
SpinachDirect sowApril 14 – April 21
SpinachFall plantingJuly 20 – August 24
Swiss ChardStart indoorsMarch 31 – April 7
Swiss ChardTransplantMay 12
Swiss ChardDirect sowApril 14 – April 21
Swiss ChardFall plantingAugust 31 – September 7
CarrotDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
CarrotHarvestJune 30 – August 6 (About 70 to 100 days from sowing.)
RadishDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
RadishHarvestMay 16 – June 12 (About 25 to 45 days from sowing.)
BeetDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
BeetHarvestJune 20 – July 17 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
ParsnipDirect sowApril 21 – April 28
ParsnipHarvestJuly 30 – August 26 (About 100 to 120 days from sowing.)
GarlicFall plantingOctober 5 – October 12
Green Bean (Snap Bean)Direct sowMay 5
Green Bean (Snap Bean)HarvestJune 24 – July 4 (About 50 to 60 days from sowing.)
BasilStart indoorsMarch 17 – March 31
BasilDirect sowMay 12
ParsleyStart indoorsMarch 17 – March 31
ParsleyDirect sowMay 12
DillDirect sowMay 12
RhubarbStart indoorsMarch 31
SunflowerDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
MarigoldStart indoorsMarch 31 – April 14
MarigoldTransplantMay 12 – May 26
MarigoldDirect sowMay 12 – May 26
PetuniaStart indoorsMarch 3 – March 17
PetuniaTransplantMay 12 – May 26
DahliaTransplantMay 12 – May 26
English LavenderTransplantMay 12 – May 26

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service / Oregon State University PRISM Group. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Zone dates are medians across the zone; your town varies.