USDA zone 4a planting guide
Zone 4a means an average annual winter low of -30°F to -25°F. That coldest-temperature band describes winter cold tolerance. Frost dates and growing-season length come separately from NOAA climate normals.
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.
Zone 4a by month
Open the months with enough source-backed tasks for a useful zone 4a checklist.
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.
Augustthis month
Active now· 14
- LettuceFall plantingJune 29 – August 3
- CarrotHarvestJune 30 – August 6
- KohlrabiFall plantingJuly 6 – August 3
- FennelHarvestJuly 11 – August 10
- Sweet CornHarvestJuly 11 – August 24
- TomatilloHarvestJuly 18 – August 9
- CabbageFall plantingJuly 20 – August 24
- CauliflowerFall plantingJuly 20 – August 24
- SpinachFall plantingJuly 20 – August 24
- PumpkinHarvestJuly 21 – September 23
- RomanescoHarvestJuly 26 – August 20
- KaleFall plantingJuly 27 – August 31
- RutabagaFall plantingJuly 27 – August 3
- ParsnipHarvestJuly 30 – August 26
Later this month· 2
Browse all 68 zone 4a crop guidesComplete directory
- Ageratum
- Annual Salvia (Scarlet Sage)
- Bachelors Button
- Basil
- Beet
- Bitter Melon
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Bok Choy
- Borage
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Collards
- Cosmos
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Forget-me-not
- French Sorrel
- French Tarragon
- Garlic
- German Chamomile
- Globe Amaranth
- Globe Artichoke
- Green Bean (Snap Bean)
- Ground Cherry
- Impatiens
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce
- Luffa Gourd
- Malabar Spinach
- Marigold
- Mexican Sunflower
- Moonflower
- Mustard Greens
- Nasturtium
- New Zealand Spinach
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Pepper
- Petunia
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Romanesco
- Rutabaga
- Spinach
- Stock
- Sunflower
- Sweet Alyssum
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Marjoram
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Watermelon
- Wax Begonia
- Winter Squash
- Zucchini
Not sure which zone you are in?
Browsing zone 4a but not sure it's yours? Enter your ZIP and we will confirm your USDA zone and pull your nearest station's frost dates.
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.