Planting Calendar by ZIP Code: What to Plant Now
Enter your ZIP code and get a planting calendar worked out from your own frost dates: what to start indoors, what to sow or transplant outdoors this month, and which fall crops are running out of time. Free, no account. Bookmark the page and it opens on your ZIP next time.
These dates come from your ZIP code's nearest NOAA weather station (1991-2020 median frost dates) and planting rules from US Cooperative Extension sources, cited crop by crop on the planting calendar pages. Half of years have a later last frost, and soil temperature matters more than the calendar for warm-season crops, so treat these as a starting point. For your sowing dates to the day, use the Seed Starting Calculator.
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How a planting calendar by ZIP code works
Your ZIP code points to the nearest NOAA weather station. From that station's 1991-2020 climate normals we take the median last spring frost and the median first fall frost. Each crop's window is then counted from those two dates with planting rules published by US Cooperative Extension services, such as starting tomato seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. That is why two ZIP codes in the same hardiness zone can have planting dates weeks apart. The method and sources are on the methodology page; for your last frost date alone, use the Frost Date Calculator.
A year of planting dates: a zone 6b example
For a garden in zone 6b, with a median last frost of Apr 23 and a median first frost of Oct 20, the calendar runs like this. Your own dates move earlier or later with your ZIP code, so enter it above for your list.
| Month | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | Basil, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Peppers, Tomatoes | - | - |
| March | Basil, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomatoes | Beets, Carrots, Kale, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Radishes, Spinach | - |
| April | - | Beans, Beets, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Onions, Pumpkins, Squash / zucchini, Tomatoes | - |
| May | - | Basil, Cucumbers, Peppers, Tomatoes | - |
| July | - | - | Broccoli |
| August | - | - | Kale, Lettuce, Spinach |
No ZIP code handy? Typical frost dates by zone
Each zone's page has its own planting schedule and the range of last-frost dates across its ZIP codes. Not sure of your zone? The Hardiness Zone Finder gives it from your ZIP code, and the growing zones by state pages show each state's range.
| Zone | Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | Planting schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3b | May 16 | Sep 26 | Zone 3b planting schedule |
| 4a | May 11 | Sep 28 | Zone 4a planting schedule |
| 4b | May 10 | Sep 30 | Zone 4b planting schedule |
| 5a | May 4 | Oct 4 | Zone 5a planting schedule |
| 5b | Apr 30 | Oct 11 | Zone 5b planting schedule |
| 6a | Apr 27 | Oct 17 | Zone 6a planting schedule |
| 6b | Apr 23 | Oct 20 | Zone 6b planting schedule |
| 7a | Apr 16 | Oct 25 | Zone 7a planting schedule |
| 7b | Apr 5 | Nov 1 | Zone 7b planting schedule |
| 8a | Mar 28 | Nov 7 | Zone 8a planting schedule |
| 8b | Mar 19 | Nov 13 | Zone 8b planting schedule |
| 9a | Mar 4 | Nov 24 | Zone 9a planting schedule |
| 9b | Feb 13 | Dec 5 | Zone 9b planting schedule |
| 10a | Jan 27 | Dec 24 | Zone 10a planting schedule |
Prefer a state view? The planting calendar by state has the full 19-crop table for each state, and the frost dates by city and zone pages show how dates vary inside a state. New to all this? Start with how to start a vegetable garden, then see soil temperature for planting and succession planting.
Planting calendar by ZIP code: common questions
How do I find what to plant by ZIP code?
Type your ZIP code into the box at the top of this page. It finds the weather station nearest you, takes that station's median last spring frost and first fall frost, and lists what to start indoors, sow or transplant outdoors, and plant for fall this month and next.
What can I plant now?
It depends on your frost dates, so the list changes by ZIP code. As a rule, cool-season crops such as peas and lettuce go in before the last spring frost, warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers go out after it, and fall crops are counted back from the first fall frost. Enter your ZIP code above for this month's list.
How accurate is a planting calendar by ZIP code?
The dates are medians from NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, so half of years have a later last frost, and about 1 year in 10 is a week or more later still. Soil temperature matters more than the calendar for warm-season crops. Treat the dates as a starting point and check your soil before sowing beans, squash or cucumbers.
What is the difference between a planting zone and a frost date?
A USDA hardiness zone is a winter-cold rating: the average coldest night of the year. It tells you which perennials survive, not when to plant. Frost dates tell you when the growing season starts and ends, which is what a planting calendar uses. Two ZIP codes in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart. See USDA hardiness zones explained.
Does it cover flowers?
No. The dates cover 19 common vegetables, each with an extension-sourced planting rule. For other plants, use the Seed Starting Calculator with your last frost date.
Is the planting calendar free?
Yes, with no account. You can also get the list by email on the 1st of each month. For every date in one plan, with the seeds to buy and reminders, there is the Season Planner.
