Vegetable Planting Calendar in the USA: When to Plant, A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners

If you’re unfamiliar with the vegetable planting schedule, you’ll have difficulty understanding it. Understanding when to sow and harvest is the key to getting the most out of your vegetable garden in the USA and ensuring you don’t miss out on producing your favorite delicacies. You can experiment with seed-starting fruits and vegetables when you get more familiar with your plot. Let’s check out Vegetable planting calendar in the USA below.

This is far more cost-effective than purchasing plug plants from a garden center. Unless you’ve missed the planting season or are a novice gardener, this is OK. Before picking up a trowel, It is recommended that you grab a notebook and paper and scribble down all of your thoughts. Make a list of your favorite vegetables, even if it seems apparent. Kitchen garden ideas aren’t worth much unless you like eating them and consistently include them in your meals.

After that, consider when to plant the seeds and how to care for them from planting to harvest. Even if some of your crops don’t turn out as you had hoped, you may try the following year again by referring to the planting calendar in this article. Where should you begin if you want to produce your food, but you’ve never done it before, particularly if you’re a novice gardener? There is an incredible diversity in the kinds of vegetables that can be grown. In addition, not everyone has the same opportunities for physical development.

You are in luck since you can choose our vegetable planting calendar for the US, which will assist you in determining what to plant and when to grow your food effectively. Below we will discuss what the USDA hardiness zones are and how to use them, how to determine what your hardiness zone is, when to start planting in USA, what is a planting calendar and how to use a planting calendar, and a seasonal vegetable planting guide for USA, and a detailed vegetable planting calendar/guide for USA.

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What are USDA hardiness zones/planting zones?

Determining the planting zone where you live is one of the first things you will need to do if you intend to grow your food. A planting zone, also known as a hardiness zone, is a geographic area that can support the growth of certain plants due to the climatic circumstances of the region. The Plant Hardiness Zone Map published by the USDA is responsible for standardizing planting zones in the United States.

On this map, the United States is broken into zones of ten degrees, each determined by the yearly lowest temperature on average. There are ten primary zones in the United States continental portion; Puerto Rico and Hawaii each have three extra zones. You can identify your planting zone by consulting the planting zone map. Be aware that you could be utilizing information that is no longer accurate if you study an older gardening book or magazine that refers to the USDA zone map.

The zone map was revised in 2012 to reflect improved data gathering techniques for temperature between 1976 and 2005. However, it does not consider the changes in the climate that have taken place since 2005. Therefore, you will still need discretion when determining the appropriate time to set certain plants in the ground. Even though it was developed in the United States, this method of determining planting zones is used all over the globe.

In addition, the Royal Horticulture Society of the United Kingdom has developed its way. They apply their hardiness ratings to USDA zones six through thirteen, and they employ these zones. The lowest temperature that other nations experience throughout the winter may be used to determine their hardiness zone by comparing it to the map that the USDA has created. After you have identified the planting zone where you live, the next step is to decide what plants are appropriate for that zone.

Know your hardiness zone

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map determines which plants will thrive in a given location. The map is constructed using data from each region’s average annual lowest winter temperatures and is separated into thirteen different zones of 10 degrees Fahrenheit, each further subdivided into subzones of 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The majority of plants that you purchase will have a hardiness zone number stamped on their tag. The label will specify the regions of the United States where the plant can flourish.

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How to make use of your hardiness/planting zone?

Because perennial plants are intended to survive for more than just one growing season, gardeners who grow them will find planting zones the most helpful gardening tool. Because perennials need to last the winter in your region, it is necessary to accurately understand how cold it generally gets there and whether or not a specific plant is hardy enough to endure those temperatures.

Perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees will thrive when planted in the correct zone and provide the most satisfactory results. You’ll discover that most winter damage happens when plants are grown in conditions outside their “comfort zone.” It is important to avoid picking plants that are just moderately hardy for your location when selecting plants for a garden or landscape. If you do this, you will observe winter damage, poor development, and a decline in blooming.

The best method to ensure a healthy garden is to populate it with plants that are local to the area. Native plants grow naturally in your region. Therefore, it is only natural that they would flourish in their native environment. When growing annual plants, such as most vegetables and certain flowers, it’s essential to pay special attention to specifics like growth season length and first and last frost dates. Planting zones are not necessary when dealing with annuals since they are only intended to survive for the duration of one growing season.

What is a planting calendar?

A planting calendar, often known as a planting timetable, provides information on when to plant several things throughout the year based on where you live. Most planting calendars use frost dates (the final spring frost and the first autumn frost), which offer direction on whether to sow seeds inside or outside, as well as when to place those seeds in the ground or transfer seedlings. In the following parts, you’ll learn how to use a planting calendar and decide what to plant and when to plant it.

When to start planting in the USA?

Your planting zone, the crop’s optimal season, and period will dictate when to sow seeds. Planting should occur in most zones throughout the spring or early autumn. However, certain crops, such as potatoes and other tubers, are more resistant to the cold. In some regions, you may be able to keep these veggies alive throughout the winter if you cover them with mulch before the season’s first frost.

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Additionally, some fruits and vegetables’ plantings can occur in the summertime if they thrive in warm climates. If they haven’t already been opened, many seed packages provide hardiness zones, when to plant and harvest, and other essential growth information that may help you plan your planting schedule.

The time required to cultivate vegetables varies, but the process typically takes a few weeks and a few months to complete. Planting seeds as soon as possible is always the ideal option if your objective is to produce enough food to feed your family regularly and sustainably. If you pay attention to the instructions that come with the seed, you may ensure that you have the most extended growth season possible.

Vegetable planting calendar in the USA

For people who are in zone 1 to 6

Vegetables	This long before planting, start plants	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zone 3-4	Zone 5-6	Harvest time (in days)
Carrots		Jan to June	March to July 12	Mid-April to mid-June	Mar 25 to April 10, Sep 15 to 30	70 to 80
Cantaloupes	Four weeks	Not suitable	May	Mid-May to June	May 10 to 20	75 to 90
Cabbage	Six weeks	Jan – April, July – Sep	Apr to Jun	April to May	Apr 1 to 25, Sep 20 to 30	65 to 80
Brussel sprouts	Six weeks	May to Jun	May to July	Mid-April to June 1
Broccoli	Six weeks	May to Jun	Mar to Aug	Mid-April to June 1	Mar 25 to Apr, Sep 20 to 30	60 to 80
Beets		Mar to June	Mar to June	Mid-April to June 1	Apr 1 to 15	55 to 65
Snap beans		May to Jun	May to July	Mid-May to July 1	May 10 to 20	50 to 60
Lima beans		not suitable	May to June	Mid-May to mid-June	May 10 to 25	65 to 75
Asparagus	One year	Mar to Apr	Feb to March	Apr 15 to May 1	Apr 5 to 25
Artichokes		Aug to Oct	Aug to Nov
Kale		May to Jul	May to Jul	Mid-April to mid-July	Mar 25 to Apr 5	50 to 70
Garlic		Sep to Oct	Sep to Feb	Oct to Nov 1
Endive	Six weeks	Mar to Jul	April to mid-Aug	Mid-April
Eggplants	Nine weeks	Not suitable	May	Early June	May 15 to 25	70 to 90
Dill		May	May
Cucumbers	Four weeks	April to Jun	May to Jun	May to mid-Jun	May 10 to 30	60 to 65
Sweet Corn		Apr to May	Apr to Jun			80 to 100
Chives	6 weeks	Apr to May	Mar to May
Chinese cabbage	Four weeks	Jul to Aug	Aug	Early July
Chard		Feb to May	Apr to Jul	Early may
Celery	9 weeks	Mar to Jun	Mar to July	Mid May
Cauliflower	6 weeks	Jan and Jun	Apr to mid-July	Mid Apr to mid-June	Apr 1 to 20, Sep 20 to 30	55 to 60
Sweet potatoes	6 weeks	Not suitable	Not suitable	Early June	Mid-May to June 5	90 to 150
Peppers	10 weeks	May	May to June	Early June	Mid-May to May 30	65 to 80
Peas		Jan to Aug	Feb to May	Apr 10 to mid-May	Mar 20 to Apr 10	60 to 80
Parsnips		May to June	Apr to May	May 1 to May 15
Parsley	10 weeks	Dec to May	Mar to June	Apr 15 to May 1
Onions	10 weeks	Jan to May	March to May	Mid-April	Mar 20 to mid-Apr, Sep 1 to Dec 31	100 to 120
Okra	8 weeks	Not suitable	Not suitable	Early June	May 10 to May 25	55 to 60
Lettuce	5 weeks	Feb to July	Apr to July	Mid-April to mid-Aug	Apr to mid-May, Sep 1 to 15	60 to 85
Leeks		Feb to Apr	March to May
Kohlrabi		Jul to Aug	Apr to Aug 15	Mid Apr to mid-Aug	Early Apr, Late Sep
Watermelons	4 weeks	Not suitable	may	Mid-May to June 1	May 10 to 12	80 to 90
Turnips		Jan and Aug	Apr to Sep	Mid-April and early Aug	March 25 to May, Early Aug to Sep 20	45 to 65
Tomatoes	8 weeks	May to Jun	may	May 15 to June 1	May 15 to 30	70 to 85
Summer squash	4 weeks	May	May to Jun	May 10 to June 1	Mid-May to 30	50 to 55
Winter squash	4 weeks	may	may	May 10 to early Jun	Mid-May to 30	85 to 90
Spinach		Aug to Feb	April or Sep	Mid-April, Aug 1 to 15	Apr 1 to 20 Aug 10 to Sep 25	40 to 45
Rutabagas		Jun to July	Jun to July	May 15 to June 15
Rhubarb		Dec to Jan	Mar to April	Mid-April to May 1
Radish		Year-round	Mar to Sep	Apr 10 to Jun 1, Aug 1 to 15	Mar 25 to May 1, Aug 1 to 25	25 to 30
Pumpkins		May	may	Mid May	May 15 to 30	85 to 90
White potatoes		Feb to May	Apr to Jun	Mid Apr to June 1	Apr 1 to 15	70 to 90

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For people who are in zone 6 to 10

Vegetables	This long before planting, start plants	Zone 5, 6	Zone 7, 8	Zone 9	Zone 10	Harvest time
Carrots		Mar 25 to Apr 10, Sep 20 to 30	Mid Jan to Mar 25, Aug 20 to mid-Sep	Sep to Mar	Oct to Mar	70 to 80
Cantaloupes	4 weeks	May 10 to 20	Mar 25 to Apr 20	Mar to Apr	Feb to Apr	80 to 90
Cabbage	6 weeks	Apr 1 to 20, Sep 20 to 30	Mid Jan to mid-Mar, Mid Aug to Oct 1	Sep to Feb	Sep to Jan	65 to 90
Brussel sprouts	6 weeks		Mid Feb to mid-Mar, Aug 1 to Sep 1	Sep to Nov	Oct to Nov
Broccoli	6 weeks	Mar 25 to Apr 5, Sep 25 to 30	Mid Feb to mid-Mar, Aug 1 to Sep 1	Aug to Feb	Aug to Jan	60 to 80
Beets		Apr 1 to 15	Mid Feb to Apr 1, Aug 1 to Sep 20	Sep to Mar	Oct to Mar	55 to 65
Snap beans		May 10 to 20	Apr 1 to May 1, Mid-July to Aug 10	Mar to Apr, Aug to Sep	Feb to Apr, Aug to Sep	50 to 65
Lima beans		May 10 to 25	Apr 1 to June 1	Mar to Aug	Feb to Apr	65 to 80
Asparagus	1 year	Apr 5 to 30	Mid Jan to mid-Mar, Nov and Dec			2^nd season
Kale		March 20 to Apr 5	Feb 1 to Mar 10, Aug 15 to 30	Sep to Feb	Sep to Jan	50 to 75
Garlic	–	–	–	–	–	–
Endive	6 weeks			Feb to Mar, Sep	Jan to Feb, Sep
Eggplants	9 weeks	May 15 to 25	Apr to mid-May, July 10 to 15	Feb to Jul	Jan to Mar, Aug to Sep	70 to 90
Dill	–	–	–	–	–	–
Cucumbers	4 weeks	May 10 to 30	Apr to mid-May, Aug 20 to Sep 1	Feb to Apr, Aug to Sep	Feb to Mar, Sep	60 to 70
Sweet Corn		May 1 to Jul 20	Mid May to early June, June 1 to July 25	Mar to Apr, Aug	Feb to Mar, Aug to Sep	80 to 100
Chives	6 weeks	–	–	–	–	–
Chinese cabbage	4 weeks			Oct to Feb	Oct to Jan
Chard	–	–	–	–	–	–
Celery	9 weeks			Jan to Mar	Aug to Feb
Cauliflower	6 weeks	Apr 1 to 20, Sep 20 to 30	Mar to Apr, Aug to Sep	Jan to Feb, Aug to Oct	Oct to Jan	55 to 65
Sweet potatoes	6 weeks	Mid-May to June 5	Mid-Apr to mid-Jun	Mar to Jun	Feb to Jun	90 to 150
Peppers	10 weeks	May 15 to 30	Apr to June	Feb to Apr, Jul to Aug	Jan to Mar, Aug to Sep	65 to 80
Peas		Mar 25 to Apr 10	Mid-Jan to mid-Feb	Mar to Aug	Mar to Sep	60 to 80
Parsnips	–	–	–	–	–	–
Parsley	10 weeks			Sep to Mar	Oct to Feb
Onions	10 weeks	Mar 25 to mid-Apr, Sep 1 to Dec 31	Jan to mid-Mar, Sep to Dec	Sep to Dec	Sep to Dec	100 to 120
Okra	8 weeks	May 10 to 25	Apr to Jun, Mid-June to July	Mar to July	Mar to Aug	55 to 65
Lettuce	5 weeks	Apr to mid-May, Sep 1 to 15	Mid Jan to Mar 1, Sep to Oct	Feb to Mar, Sep to Oct	Sep to Mar	60 to 90
Leeks				Sep to Mar	Sep to Feb
Kohlrabi		Early April, late Sep		Sep to Mar	Oct to Mar
Watermelons	4 weeks	May 10 to 12	Mar 25 to May 1	Mar to Apr, July to Aug	Jan to Mar, Aug	80 to 90
Turnips		Mar 25 to May 1, Aug 5 to Sep 20	Mid Jan to Apr 1, Aug 10 to mid-Sep	Jan to Apr, Aug to Oct	Jan to Mar, Sep to Oct	45 to 70
Tomatoes	8 weeks	May 15 to 30	Mar 25 to May 5	Feb to Apr, Aug	Sep, Jan to Mar	70 to 85
Summer squash	4 weeks	May 15 to 30	Apr to mid-May, Aug 1 to 15	Mar to Apr, Aug to Sep	Feb to Mar, Aug to Sep	50 to 60
Winter squash	4 weeks	May 15 to 30	Apr to Aug	Mar to Aug	Feb to Mar, Aug	85 to 90
Spinach		Apr 1 to 20, Aug 10 to Sep 20	Mid Jan to mid-Mar, Sep to mid-Oct	Oct to Nov	Oct to Nov	40 to 50
Rutabagas	–	–	–	–	–	–
Rhubarb	–	–	–	–	–	–
Radish		Mar 25 to May 1, Aug 1 to 20	Mid Jan to Apr 1,Sep to mid-Oct	–	–	25 to 30
Pumpkins		May 15 to 30	Apr to Aug	Mar to Apr, Aug	Feb to Mar, Aug	85 to 90
White potatoes		Apr 1 to 15	Mid Jan to Mar	Jan to Mar	Jan to Feb	70 to 90

Conclusion

Where you reside is the most critical factor when deciding when and what to plant. Use the planting calendar that works best for you when planning your garden. You can either give one of the ways that can be done online or with pen and paper a try, or you can come up with your own. Just remember that striving for perfection shouldn’t be at the expense of doing what’s good. Don’t allow the fact that you can’t accomplish everything you want to or that the time isn’t ideal for preventing you from trying to grow some vegetables.

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Keep in mind that cold will destroy most of the plants. In harsh winter areas, don’t plant too late. Now that you know when to start your vegetables choose the best time to start your vegetables. Start planting vegetables in your backyard, balcony, containers, or any other place and take care of them. In no time, you will get a healthy and quality bountiful harvest. Cheers to the vegetables and fruits that resulted from your hard work! And now you also know that gardening is fun.

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