Vegetable Planting Schedule, Hardiness Zone Look-up, & Germination Temperature Chart

Vegetable Planting Schedule & Hardiness Zone Look-up:

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If there’s one thing that every gardener learns, — timing is everything.  The path to a healthy harvest always starts with basic foresight and planning.  The Vegetable & Herb Timing tables below provide the basics for scheduling your conventional and vertical Garden Tower plantings. And don’t forget to check out the Seed Germination versus Temperature chart to make sure your plants stay on schedule!

Gardening with a high-volume container system like the Garden Tower® gives you a head start, literally. In a sunny location, soil in the Garden Tower will heat up faster (and retain a higher temperature) than in conventional gardens. If nighttime frost protection can be provided for (tarps, garden fleeces, bed sheets, large trash bag, etc.), the typical traditional planting schedule can often be moved forward an entire month.

Use the data below to learn both when to start your seeds and when to transplant outdoors.

Hardiness Zone Look-up:

Unsure of your hardiness zone? Look it up precisely by state in a few seconds here: Growing-zones

Vegetable and Herb Planting Schedule: USDA Zones 1-6 

Garden Planting Chart (start seeds in a controlled environment before these dates as indicated)
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Artichokes Crown Aug – Oct Aug – Nov      
(globe) pieces May – Jun Apr – June      
Asparagus 1 year Mar – Apr Feb – Mar Apr 15 – May 1  Apr 5 – 25 2nd seas.
             
Beans (lima)   not May – Jun May 15 – Jun 10 May 10 – 25 65-75
    suitable        
Beans (snap)   May – Jun May – July May 15 – Jul 1 May 10 – 20 50-60
             
Beets   Mar – Jun Mar – Jun Apr 15 – Jul 1 Apr 1 – 15 55-65
             
Broccoli 6 weeks May – Jun Mar – Aug Apr 15 – Jun 1 Mar 25 – Apr 5
Apr 5
60-80
          Sep 25 – 30  
Brussels sprouts 6 weeks May – Jun May – Jul Apr 15 – Jun 1    
             
Cabbage 6 weeks Jan – Apr Apr – Jun April 1 – May 1 Apr 1 – 20 65-80
    July – Sep     Sep 20 – 30  
Cantaloupes 4 weeks not May May 15 – June 1 May 10- 20 80-90
    suitable        
Carrots   Jan – Jun Mar – Jul 15 April 15 – June 15 Mar 25 – Apr 10
70-80
          Sept 20-30  
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Cauliflower 6 weeks January & Apr – Jul 15 April 15 – June 15 Apr 1 – 20 55-60
    June     Sept 20 – 30  
Celery 9 weeks Mar – Jun Mar – Jul May (mid)    
             
Chard   Feb – May Apr – Jul  May (early)    
             
Chinese 4 weeks Jul – Aug August Jul (early)    
cabbage            
Chives 6 weeks Apr – May Mar – May      
             
Corn (sweet)   Apr – May Apr – Jun   May 1 to Jul 20 80-100
             
Cucumbers 4 weeks Apr – Jun May – Jun May 1 – Jun 15 May 10 – 30 60-65
(slicing)            
Cucumbers 4 weeks May May – Jun      
(pickling)            
Dill   May May      
             
Eggplants 9 weeks not May Jun (early) May 15 – 25 70-90
    suitable        
Endive 6 weeks Mar – Jul Apr – Aug 15 Apr (mid)    
             
Garlic   Sep – Oct Sep – Feb Oct – Nov 1    
             
Kale   May – Jul May – July Apr 15 – Jul 15 Mar 25 – Apr 5 50-70
             
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Kohlrabi   Jul – Aug Apr – Aug 15 Apr 15 – Aug 15 Apr (early)  
          Sept (late)  
Leeks   Feb – Apr Mar – May      
             
Lettuce (head) 5 weeks Feb – Jul Apr -July Apr 15 – Aug 15 Apr 1 – May 15 60-85
          Sep 1 – 15  
Lettuce (leaf) 5 weeks Feb – Aug Apr – Aug Apr 15 – May 1 Apr 1 – Jun 15 45-65
          Sep 1 – 15  
Okra 8 weeks not not Jun (early) May 10 – 25 55-60
    suitable suitable      
Onions 10 weeks Jan – May Mar – May Apr (mid) Mar 25 – Apr 15 100-120
          Sep 1 – Dec 31  
Parsley 10 weeks Dec – May Mar – Jun Apr 15 – May 1    
             
Parsnips   May – June Apr – May May 1 – 15    
             
Peas   Jan – Aug Feb – May Apr 10 – May 15 Mar 25 – Apr 10  60-80
             
Peppers 10 weeks May May – June Jun (early) May 15 – May 30 65-80
             
Potatoes 6 weeks not not Jun (early) May 15 – Jun 5 90-150
(sweet)   suitable suitable      
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Potatoes (white)   Feb – May Apr – Jun Apr 15 – Jun 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15 70-90
             
Pumpkins   May May May (mid) May 15 – 30 85-90
             
Radish   All year Mar – Sep Apr 10 – Jun 1 Mar 25 – May 1 Aug 1 – 20 25-30
        Aug 1 – Aug 15    
Rhubarb Crown Dec – Jan Mar – Apr Apr 15 – May 1    
  pieces          
Rutabagas   Jun – Jul Jun – July May 15 – Jun 15    
             
Spinach   Aug – Feb April or Apr (mid) April 1 – 20  40-45
      Sept. Aug 1- Aug 15 Aug 10 – Sep 20  
Squash 4 weeks May May – Jun May 10 – Jun 1 May 15 – 30 50-55
(summer)            
Squash (winter) 4 weeks May May May 10 – Jun 1 May 15 – 30 85-90
             
Tomatoes 8 weeks May – Jun May May 15 – Jun 1 May 15 – 30 70-85
             
Turnips   January & Apr – Sep Apr (mid)  Mar 25 – May 1 45-65
    August   Aug (early) Aug 5 – Set 20  
Watermelons 4 weeks not May May 15 – Jun 1 May 10 – 12 80-90
    suitable        
For many crops, the quantity of starts to plant should be divided into several plantings, 1 or 2 weeks apart.
This schedule was compiled from extension service materials and is incomplete. We will update it when possible.  Look up your local USDA extension office for more information.  This table cannot be republished without permission.

Vegetable and Herb Planting Schedule: USDA Zones 6-10

Garden Planting Chart (start seeds in a controlled environment before these dates as indicated)
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zones 5 & 6 Zones 7 & 8 Zones 9 Zone 10 Days to maturity / harvest
Artichokes Crown          
(globe) pieces          
Asparagus 1 year Apr 5 – 25 Jan 15 – Mar 15
Mar. 15
    2nd seas.
      Nov & Dec.      
Beans (lima)   May 10 – 25 Apr 1 – June 1
June 1″
Mar – Aug Feb – Apr 65-75
      July 1 – Aug 1 Aug – Sep Sep  
Beans (snap)   May 10 – 20 Apr 1- May1 Mar – Apr Feb – Apr 50-60
      July 15 – Aug 10 Aug – Sep Aug – Sep  
Beets   Apr 1 – 15 Feb 15 – Apr 1 Sept – Mar Oct – Mar 55-65
      Aug 1 – Sept 20      
Broccoli 6 weeks Mar 25 – Apr 5 Feb 15 – Mar 15 Aug – Feb Aug – Jan 60-80
    Sep 25 – 30 Aug 1 – Sep 1      
Brussels sprouts 6 weeks   Feb 15 – Mar 15 Sep – Nov Oct – Nov  
      Aug 1 – Sep 1      
Cabbage 6 weeks Apr 1 – 20 Jan 15 – Mar 15 Sep – Feb Sep – Jan 65-80
    Sep 20 – 30 Aug 15 – Oct 1      
Cantaloupes 4 weeks May 10- 20 Mar 25 – Apr 20 Mar – Apr Feb – Apr 80-90
      not recommened      
Carrots   Mar 25 – Apr 10 Jan 15 – Mar 20 Sep – Mar Oct – Mar 70-80
    or Sept 20-30 Aug 20 – Sep 15      
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zones 5 & 6 Zones 7 & 8 Zones 9 Zone 10 Days to maturity / harvest
Cauliflower 6 weeks Apr 1 – 20 Mar 1 – Apr 1 Jan – Feb Oct – Jan 55-60
    Sept 20 – 30 Aug 1 – Sep 1 Aug – Oct    
Celery 9 weeks     Jan – Mar Aug – Feb  
             
Chard            
             
Chinese 4 weeks     Oct – Feb Oct – Jan  
cabbage            
Chives 6 weeks          
             
Corn (sweet)   May 1 to Jul 20 May 15 – Jun 1 Mar – Apr Feb – Mar 80-100
      June 1 – Jul 20 Aug Aug – Sept  
Cucumbers 4 weeks May 10 – 30 Apr 1 – May 15 Feb – Apr Feb – Mar 60-65
(slicing)     Aug 20 – Sept 1 Aug – Sep Sep  
Cucumbers 4 weeks          
(pickling)            
Dill            
             
Eggplants 9 weeks May 15 – 25 Apr 1 – May 15 Feb – Jul Jan – Mar 70-90
      July 10 – 15   Aug – Sep  
Endive 6 weeks     Feb – Mar Jan – Feb  
        Sep Sept  
Garlic            
             
Kale   Mar 25 – Apr 5 Feb 1 – Mar 10 Sep – Feb Sep – Jan 50-70
      Aug 10 – 30      
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zones 5 & 6 Zones 7 & 8 Zones 9 Zone 10 Days to maturity / harvest
Kohlrabi   Apr (early)   Sep – Mar Oct – Mar  
    Sept (late)        
Leeks       Sep – Mar Sep – Feb  
             
Lettuce (head) 5 weeks Apr 1 – May 15 Jan 15 – Mar 1 Feb – Mar Sep – Mar 60-85
    Sep 1 – 15 Sep 1 – Oct 1 Sep – Oct    
Lettuce (leaf) 5 weeks Apr 1 – Jun 15 Jan 15 – Mar 1     45-65
    Sep 1 – 15 Sep 1 – Oct 1      
Okra 8 weeks May 10 – 25 Apr 1 – June 1
June 1″
Mar – Jul Mar – Aug 55-60
      June 15 – July 1      
Onions 10 weeks Mar 25 – Apr 15 Jan 1 – Mar 15 Sep – Dec Sep – Dec 100-120
    Sep 1 – Dec 31 Sep 1 – Dec 31      
Parsley 10 weeks     Sep – Mar Oct – Feb  
             
Parsnips            
             
Peas   Mar 25 – Apr 10 Jan 15 – Feb 15 Mar – Aug Mar – Sept 60-80
             
Peppers 10 weeks May 15 – May 30 Apr. 1 – June 1 Feb – Apr Jan – Mar 65-80
        Jul – Aug Aug – Sep  
Potatoes 6 weeks May 15 – Jun 5 Apr 15 – Jun 15 Mar – Jun Feb- Jun 90-150
(sweet)            
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zones 5 & 6 Zones 7 & 8 Zones 9 Zone 10 Days to maturity / harvest
Potatoes (white)   Apr 1 – Apr 15 Jan 15 – Mar 1 Jan – Mar Jan – Feb 70-90
             
Pumpkins   May 15 – 30 Apr 1 – Aug 1 Mar – Apr Feb – Mar 85-90
        Aug Aug  
Radish   Mar 25 – May 1 Aug 1 – 20 Jan 15 – Apr 1     25-30
      Sep 1 – Oct 15      
Rhubarb Crown          
  pieces          
Rutabagas            
             
Spinach   April 1 – 20 Jan 15 – Mar 15 Oct – Nov Oct – Nov 40-45
    Aug 10 – Sep 20 Sep 1 – Oct 15      
Squash 4 weeks May 15 – 30 Apr 1 – May 15 Mar – Apr Feb – Mar 50-55
(summer)     Aug 1 – 20 Aug – Sept Aug – Sept  
Squash (winter) 4 weeks May 15 – 30 Apr 1 – Aug 1 March Feb – Mar 85-90
        August Aug  
Tomatoes 8 weeks May 15 – 30 Mar 25 – May 1 Feb – Apr Jan – Mar 70-85
      June 1 – Aug 10 Aug Sept  
Turnips   Mar 25 – May 1 Jan 15 – Apr 1 Jan – Apr Jan – Mar 45-65
    Aug 5 – Set 20 Aug 10 – Sep 15 Aug – Oct Sept – Nov  
Watermelons 4 weeks May 10 – 12 Mar 20 – May 1 Mar – Apr Jan – Mar 80-90
        July – Aug Aug  
For many crops, the quantity of starts to plant should be divided into several plantings, 1 or 2 weeks apart.
This schedule was compiled from extension service materials and is incomplete. We will update it when possible. Look up your local USDA extension office for more information. This table cannot be republished without permission.

Seed Germination versus Temperature: (use the table below to ensure your seeds stay on schedule!)

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