Zone 3a planting calendar
In zone 3a, the last spring frost usually comes around May 20 and the first fall frost around Sep 10. Here is what to do each month.
Get this calendar for just the plants you choose. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
Open the free planner →March
- Mar 25:
Start bell pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 25:
Start hot pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 25:
Start eggplant seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 25:
Start parsley seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 25:
Start chives seeds indoors (or buy plants later)
April
- Apr 1:
Start tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 1:
Start cherry tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 8:
Sow spinach seeds in the bed - Apr 8:
Start kale seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 8:
Start broccoli seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 8:
Start cabbage seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 8:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 8:
Sow pea seeds in the bed - Apr 8:
Start basil seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Apr 15:
Sow radish seeds in the bed - Apr 22:
Sow lettuce seeds in the bed - Apr 22:
Sow arugula seeds in the bed - Apr 22: Plant kale in the bed
- Apr 22:
Plant onion sets in the bed - Apr 22:
Sow green onion seeds in the bed - Apr 22:
Plant strawberries in the bed - Apr 22:
Plant raspberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 22:
Plant rhubarb in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 29: Plant broccoli in the bed
- Apr 29: Plant cabbage in the bed
- Apr 29:
Sow carrot seeds in the bed - Apr 29:
Sow beet seeds in the bed
May
- May 6:
Sow swiss chard seeds in the bed - May 6: Plant cauliflower in the bed
- May 6:
Plant seed potatoes in the bed - May 6: Plant parsley in the bed
- May 6:
Sow cilantro seeds in the bed - May 6: Plant chives in the bed
- May 20:
Sow dill seeds in the bed - May 22: Start kale seeds indoors for a fall crop
- May 27:
Sow bush bean seeds in the bed - May 27:
Sow pole bean seeds in the bed
June
- Jun 3: Plant tomatoes in the bed
- Jun 3: Plant cherry tomatoes in the bed
- Jun 3: Plant bell peppers in the bed
- Jun 3: Plant hot peppers in the bed
- Jun 3:
Sow cucumber seeds in the bed - Jun 3:
Sow zucchini seeds in the bed - Jun 3:
Sow winter squash seeds in the bed - Jun 3:
Sow sweet corn seeds in the bed - Jun 3: Plant basil in the bed
- Jun 3:
Sow watermelon seeds in the bed - Jun 3:
Sow cantaloupe seeds in the bed - Jun 10: Plant eggplants in the bed
- Jun 10:
Plant sweet potatoes in the bed - Jun 10:
Sow okra seeds in the bed - Jun 28: Sow green onion seeds again for a fall crop
- Jun 28: Sow pea seeds again for a fall crop
July
- Jul 3: Plant kale again for a fall crop
- Jul 3: Sow swiss chard seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 3: Sow beet seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 8: Sow lettuce seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 8: Sow cilantro seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 13: Sow spinach seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 18: Sow arugula seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 30: Sow radish seeds again for a fall crop
August
- Aug 13:
Plant garlic cloves
Not usually grown outdoors in zone 3a
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 3a. Your local dates may differ by a week or two.