Zone 3b planting calendar
In zone 3b, the last spring frost usually comes around May 15 and the first fall frost around Sep 15. Here is what to do each month.
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Open the free planner →March
- Mar 20:
Start bell pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 20:
Start hot pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 20:
Start eggplant seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 20:
Start parsley seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 20:
Start chives seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 27:
Start tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 27:
Start cherry tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later)
April
- Apr 3:
Sow spinach seeds in the bed - Apr 3:
Start kale seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 3:
Start broccoli seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 3:
Start cabbage seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 3:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 3:
Sow pea seeds in the bed - Apr 3:
Start basil seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 10:
Sow radish seeds in the bed - Apr 17:
Sow lettuce seeds in the bed - Apr 17:
Sow arugula seeds in the bed - Apr 17: Plant kale in the bed
- Apr 17:
Plant onion sets in the bed - Apr 17:
Sow green onion seeds in the bed - Apr 17:
Plant strawberries in the bed - Apr 17:
Plant raspberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 17:
Plant rhubarb in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 24: Plant broccoli in the bed
- Apr 24: Plant cabbage in the bed
- Apr 24:
Sow carrot seeds in the bed - Apr 24:
Sow beet seeds in the bed
May
- May 1:
Sow swiss chard seeds in the bed - May 1: Plant cauliflower in the bed
- May 1:
Plant seed potatoes in the bed - May 1: Plant parsley in the bed
- May 1:
Sow cilantro seeds in the bed - May 1: Plant chives in the bed
- May 15:
Sow dill seeds in the bed - May 22:
Sow bush bean seeds in the bed - May 22:
Sow pole bean seeds in the bed - May 27: Start kale seeds indoors for a fall crop
- May 29: Plant tomatoes in the bed
- May 29: Plant cherry tomatoes in the bed
- May 29: Plant bell peppers in the bed
- May 29: Plant hot peppers in the bed
- May 29:
Sow cucumber seeds in the bed - May 29:
Sow zucchini seeds in the bed - May 29:
Sow winter squash seeds in the bed - May 29:
Sow sweet corn seeds in the bed - May 29: Plant basil in the bed
- May 29:
Sow watermelon seeds in the bed - May 29:
Sow cantaloupe seeds in the bed
June
- Jun 5: Plant eggplants in the bed
- Jun 5:
Plant sweet potatoes in the bed - Jun 5:
Sow okra seeds in the bed
July
- Jul 3: Sow green onion seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 3: Sow pea seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 8: Plant kale again for a fall crop
- Jul 8: Sow swiss chard seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 8: Sow beet seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 13: Sow lettuce seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 13: Sow cilantro seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 18: Sow spinach seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 23: Sow arugula seeds again for a fall crop
August
- Aug 4: Sow radish seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 18:
Plant garlic cloves
Not usually grown outdoors in zone 3b
Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Blueberry (dwarf), Blackberry (thornless), Fig (dwarf), Lemon (dwarf Meyer). Some of these can be grown in pots and moved indoors for winter.
Dates are estimates based on average frost dates for zone 3b. Your local dates may differ by a week or two.