When to plant, crop by crop
Planting dates for 68 crops, counted from the frost dates of the weather station nearest you. Type your town; the example below is Columbus, OH.
Vegetables in Columbus, OH
Cool-season crops first: they go in weeks before the last frost.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | Aug 25 to Sep 29 | ||
| Beets | Mar 7 to Apr 18 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 | |
| Bok Choy | Mar 21 to Apr 18; Feb 28 to Apr 18 | Aug 4 to Sep 29 | |
| Broccoli | Feb 7 to Mar 21 | Mar 21 to Apr 4; Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 4 to Sep 8 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 7 to Mar 21 | Mar 21 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Cabbage | Jan 31 to Mar 14 | Mar 14 to Apr 4; Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 4 to Sep 8 |
| Carrots | Mar 7 to Apr 18 | Jul 28 to Aug 25 | |
| Cauliflower | Feb 14 to Mar 14 | Mar 21 to Apr 18; Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Celery | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | |
| Collard Greens | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | Aug 4 to Sep 15 | |
| Garlic | Sep 15 to Nov 10 | ||
| Kale | Jan 31 to Mar 7 | Mar 14 to 28; Feb 28 to Mar 28 | Aug 4 to Sep 15 |
| Leeks | Jan 3 to Feb 7 | Mar 14 to 21 | |
| Lettuce | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | Mar 21 to Apr 18; Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 4 to Oct 6 |
| Onions | Dec 27 to Mar 7 | Mar 7 to Apr 4; Mar 7 to Apr 4; Feb 28 to Apr 4 | |
| Peas | Feb 28 to Apr 4 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 | |
| Potatoes | Mar 7 to Apr 18 | ||
| Radishes | Feb 28 to Apr 4 | Aug 4 to Oct 6 | |
| Shallots | Sep 15 to Oct 27 | ||
| Spinach | Feb 28 to Apr 4 | Sep 1 to Oct 20 | |
| Swiss Chard | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 4 to 18; Mar 7 to Apr 18 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Turnips | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 | |
| Asparagus | Mar 14 to Apr 18 | ||
| Rhubarb | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | Oct 27 to Nov 24 | |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 to May 9; Apr 18 to May 9 | |
| Cucumbers | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2; Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Eggplant | Feb 7 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 9 | |
| Green Beans | Apr 11 to 25 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 | |
| Okra | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 9 | |
| Peppers | Feb 7 to Mar 7 | Apr 18 to May 9 | |
| Pumpkins | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 25 to May 9; Apr 25 to May 9 | |
| Sweet Corn | Apr 11 to 25 | ||
| Sweet Potatoes | Apr 25 to May 9 | ||
| Tomatoes | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 18 to May 2 | |
| Watermelon | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 to May 9; Apr 25 to May 9 | |
| Winter Squash | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 to May 9; Apr 18 to May 9 | |
| Zucchini (Summer Squash) | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Apr 18 to May 2; Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 4 to 25 |
Herbs in Columbus, OH
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cilantro | |||
| Dill | Apr 4 to 18 | ||
| Parsley | Jan 24 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18; Apr 4 to 18 | |
| Basil | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | Apr 18 to May 2; Apr 18 to May 2 |
Fruit in Columbus, OH
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Trees | Feb 21 to Apr 4 | Oct 13 to Dec 22 | |
| Blueberries | Mar 7 to May 2 | Sep 29 to Dec 22 | |
| Cherry Trees | Feb 21 to Apr 4 | ||
| Raspberries | Mar 21 to Apr 25 | ||
| Strawberries | Mar 21 to Apr 18 | Sep 1 to Oct 13 |
Flowers and bulbs in Columbus, OH
Spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils go in during fall.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crocus | Sep 29 to Dec 8 | ||
| Daffodils | Sep 29 to Nov 24 | ||
| Dahlias | Apr 4 to May 16 | ||
| Gladiolus | Apr 4 to Jun 13 | ||
| Hostas | Mar 21 to May 16 | Aug 18 to Sep 29 | |
| Hyacinths | Sep 29 to Dec 22 | ||
| Irises | Jul 21 to Sep 15 | ||
| Lilies | Mar 7 to Apr 18 | Sep 15 to Oct 27 | |
| Marigolds | Feb 21 to Mar 21 | Apr 18 to May 9 | |
| Ornamental Alliums | Sep 29 to Dec 8 | ||
| Peonies | Sep 15 to Nov 10 | ||
| Roses | Feb 21 to Apr 11 | ||
| Sunflowers | Apr 18 to May 9 | ||
| Tulips | Sep 29 to Dec 22 | ||
| Zinnias | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 18 to May 9 |
Trees, shrubs and other groups in Columbus, OH
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crape Myrtles | Oct 13 to Dec 22 | ||
| Fruit Trees | Feb 21 to Apr 4 | Oct 13 to Dec 22 | |
| Herbs | Feb 21 to Mar 21 | Mar 21 to May 2 | Aug 18 to Sep 29 |
| Hydrangeas | Mar 21 to May 16 | Sep 1 to Nov 10 | |
| Summer Bulbs | Apr 18 to May 30 | ||
| Trees | Mar 7 to May 2 | Sep 1 to Nov 10 | |
| Wildflowers | Mar 21 to May 2 | Sep 1 to Dec 8 |
How to read these dates
Every date is a range because university guides give a range of weeks for each crop, and we count those weeks from your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Plant early in the range in a warm, sheltered spot or under a row cover; late in the range if your garden sits low, where cold air settles. Each crop's page has its spacing, depth, days to harvest and the guides we used.
Timing: university extension guides (listed on each crop's page). Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Varieties and weather differ; your local extension office has the final word.