Zone 4a planting calendar
In zone 4a, the last spring frost usually comes around May 12 and the first fall frost around Sep 21. Here is what to do each month.
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Open the free planner →March
- Mar 17:
Start bell pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Start hot pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Start eggplant seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Start parsley seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Start chives seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 24:
Start tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 24:
Start cherry tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 31:
Sow spinach seeds in the bed - Mar 31:
Start kale seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 31:
Start broccoli seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 31:
Start cabbage seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 31:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 31:
Sow pea seeds in the bed - Mar 31:
Start basil seeds indoors (or buy plants later)
April
- Apr 7:
Sow radish seeds in the bed - Apr 14:
Sow lettuce seeds in the bed - Apr 14:
Sow arugula seeds in the bed - Apr 14: Plant kale in the bed
- Apr 14:
Plant onion sets in the bed - Apr 14:
Sow green onion seeds in the bed - Apr 14:
Plant strawberries in the bed - Apr 14:
Plant blueberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 14:
Plant raspberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 14:
Plant rhubarb in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 21: Plant broccoli in the bed
- Apr 21: Plant cabbage in the bed
- Apr 21:
Sow carrot seeds in the bed - Apr 21:
Sow beet seeds in the bed - Apr 28:
Sow swiss chard seeds in the bed - Apr 28: Plant cauliflower in the bed
- Apr 28:
Plant seed potatoes in the bed - Apr 28: Plant parsley in the bed
- Apr 28:
Sow cilantro seeds in the bed - Apr 28: Plant chives in the bed
May
- May 12:
Sow dill seeds in the bed - May 19:
Sow bush bean seeds in the bed - May 19:
Sow pole bean seeds in the bed - May 23: Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop
- May 23: Start cauliflower seeds indoors for a fall crop
- May 26: Plant tomatoes in the bed
- May 26: Plant cherry tomatoes in the bed
- May 26: Plant bell peppers in the bed
- May 26: Plant hot peppers in the bed
- May 26:
Sow cucumber seeds in the bed - May 26:
Sow zucchini seeds in the bed - May 26:
Sow winter squash seeds in the bed - May 26:
Sow sweet corn seeds in the bed - May 26: Plant basil in the bed
- May 26:
Sow watermelon seeds in the bed - May 26:
Sow cantaloupe seeds in the bed
June
- Jun 2: Plant eggplants in the bed
- Jun 2: Start kale seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 2:
Plant sweet potatoes in the bed - Jun 2:
Sow okra seeds in the bed
July
- Jul 4: Plant broccoli again for a fall crop
- Jul 4: Plant cauliflower again for a fall crop
- Jul 9: Sow green onion seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 9: Sow pea seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 14: Plant kale again for a fall crop
- Jul 14: Sow swiss chard seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 14: Sow beet seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 19: Sow lettuce seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 19: Sow cilantro seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 24: Sow spinach seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 29: Sow arugula seeds again for a fall crop
August
- Aug 10: Sow radish seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 24:
Plant garlic cloves
Not usually grown outdoors in zone 4a
Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, 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 4a. Your local dates may differ by a week or two.