My Planting Calendar

Midwest vegetable planting guide

Cold winters, warm summers, good rainfall. A classic four-season garden — indoor starts for warm crops, big spring and fall cool-season windows.

FROST-FREE DAYS
143–186
USDA ZONES
3a–7a
LAST SPRING FROST RANGE
April 15 – May 10

States in this region

Ohio calendar →Indiana calendar →Illinois calendar →Michigan calendar →Wisconsin calendar →Minnesota calendar →Iowa calendar →Missouri calendar →

Representative planting calendar

Based on Iowa (166 frost-free days) — near the middle of this region. Pick your state above, or use the generator with your ZIP for exact dates.

CropStart indoorsSow / transplant outFirst harvest
CeleriacJan 31 – Feb 14Apr 18 – May 5Aug 3 – Aug 23
OnionFeb 7 – Feb 21Mar 28 – Apr 14Jul 3 – Aug 2
LeekFeb 7 – Feb 21Apr 4 – Apr 21Jul 20 – Sep 8
CeleryFeb 7 – Feb 21Apr 18 – May 5Aug 3 – Sep 12
RosemaryFeb 7 – Feb 21Apr 25 – May 12Jul 31 – Aug 30
EggplantFeb 14 – Feb 28May 9 – May 26Jul 20 – Aug 9
ParsleyFeb 14 – Feb 28Apr 4 – Apr 21Jun 20 – Jul 10
ShallotFeb 14 – Feb 28Mar 28 – Apr 14Jul 3 – Aug 2
Bell PepperFeb 21 – Mar 7May 2 – May 19Jul 8 – Aug 7
Chili PepperFeb 21 – Mar 7May 2 – May 19Jul 18 – Aug 17
Green Onion / ScallionFeb 21 – Mar 7Mar 21 – Apr 7May 27 – Jun 16
ThymeFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 18 – May 5Jul 9 – Jul 24
OreganoFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 18 – May 5Jul 14 – Jul 24
MintFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 11 – Apr 28Jun 27 – Jul 17
SageFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 18 – May 5Jul 9 – Jul 24
TarragonFeb 21 – Mar 7Apr 11 – Apr 28Jun 17 – Jul 17
GingerFeb 21 – Mar 7May 9 – May 26Jan 11 – Mar 12
TurmericFeb 21 – Mar 7May 9 – May 26Jan 11 – Mar 12
TomatoFeb 28 – Mar 14Apr 25 – May 12Jul 1 – Jul 26
TomatilloFeb 28 – Mar 14Apr 25 – May 12Jul 16 – Aug 10
Ground CherryFeb 28 – Mar 14Apr 25 – May 12Jul 11 – Jul 31
Sweet MarjoramFeb 28 – Mar 14Apr 25 – May 12Jul 1 – Jul 21
Lemon BalmFeb 28 – Mar 14Apr 11 – Apr 28Jun 27 – Jul 17
Shiso (Perilla)Feb 28 – Mar 14Apr 25 – May 12Jul 11 – Jul 31
KaleMar 7 – Mar 21Mar 28 – Apr 14May 24 – Jun 8
BroccoliMar 7 – Mar 21Apr 4 – Apr 21Jun 10 – Jul 5
CauliflowerMar 7 – Mar 21Apr 4 – Apr 21Jun 10 – Jul 10
CabbageMar 7 – Mar 21Mar 28 – Apr 14Jun 3 – Jul 13
Brussels SproutsMar 7 – Mar 21Apr 4 – Apr 21Jul 10 – Aug 9
OkraMar 14 – Mar 28May 2 – May 19Jun 28 – Jul 13
BasilMar 14 – Mar 28May 2 – May 19Jun 8 – Jul 8
Collard GreensMar 14 – Mar 28Mar 28 – Apr 14May 29 – Jun 18
KohlrabiMar 14 – Mar 28Mar 28 – Apr 14May 19 – Jun 3
Endive & EscaroleMar 14 – Mar 28Apr 4 – Apr 21Jul 5 – Jul 20
RadicchioMar 14 – Mar 28Apr 4 – Apr 21Jun 10 – Jul 20
ChayoteMar 14 – Mar 28May 2 – May 19Sep 6 – Oct 6
Malabar SpinachMar 14 – Mar 28May 2 – May 19Jul 3 – Jul 18
Summer SavoryMar 14 – Mar 28Apr 25 – May 12Jun 26 – Jul 11
Pea—Mar 16 – Apr 4May 15 – May 30
Spinach—Mar 16 – Apr 4Apr 27 – May 5
Mache (Corn Salad)—Mar 16 – Apr 4May 5 – May 20
LettuceMar 21 – Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 21May 11 – Jun 10
Swiss ChardMar 21 – Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 21May 31 – Jun 10
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiMar 21 – Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 21May 16 – May 31
Fennel (Bulb)Mar 21 – Apr 4Apr 11 – Apr 28Jun 22 – Jul 17
Napa CabbageMar 21 – Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 21May 31 – Jun 25
Bitter MelonMar 21 – Apr 4May 2 – May 19Jul 3 – Jul 23
CucamelonMar 21 – Apr 4May 2 – May 19Jul 13 – Jul 23
New Zealand SpinachMar 21 – Apr 4Apr 25 – May 12Jun 21 – Jul 11
PeanutMar 21 – Apr 4Apr 25 – May 12Aug 10 – Sep 29
WatercressMar 21 – Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 21May 31 – Jun 10
Luffa (Loofah Gourd)Mar 21 – Apr 4May 2 – May 19Aug 7 – Oct 6
Beet—Mar 23 – Apr 11May 17 – Jun 6
Radish—Mar 23 – Apr 11Apr 19 – Apr 27
Arugula—Mar 23 – Apr 11Apr 27 – May 7
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)—Mar 23 – Apr 11Jun 11 – Jun 26
Tatsoi—Mar 23 – Apr 11May 2 – May 17
Mizuna—Mar 23 – Apr 11May 2 – May 12
CucumberMar 28 – Apr 11May 2 – May 19Jun 28 – Jul 18
Zucchini / Summer SquashMar 28 – Apr 11Apr 25 – May 12Jun 16 – Jul 1
Winter SquashMar 28 – Apr 11Apr 25 – May 12Jul 21 – Aug 20
PumpkinMar 28 – Apr 11Apr 25 – May 12Jul 31 – Aug 30
Cantaloupe / MuskmelonMar 28 – Apr 11May 2 – May 19Jul 18 – Aug 7
WatermelonMar 28 – Apr 11May 2 – May 19Jul 18 – Aug 17
Rhubarb—Mar 28 – Apr 14—
Horseradish—Mar 28 – Apr 14—
SunflowerMar 28 – Apr 11Apr 25 – May 12Jul 11 – Aug 10
Carrot—Mar 30 – Apr 18Jun 3 – Jun 23
Turnip—Mar 30 – Apr 18May 14 – Jun 3
Mustard Greens—Mar 30 – Apr 18May 4 – May 19
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)—Mar 30 – Apr 18May 14 – Jun 3
Chervil—Mar 30 – Apr 18May 14 – Jun 3
Chives—Apr 4 – Apr 21—
Asparagus—Apr 4 – Apr 21—
Sorrel—Apr 4 – Apr 21—
Potato—Apr 6 – Apr 25Jun 20 – Aug 9
Cilantro / Coriander—Apr 6 – Apr 25May 26 – Jun 20
Salsify—Apr 6 – Apr 25Jul 30 – Sep 8
Borage—Apr 6 – Apr 25Jun 5 – Jun 25
Globe Artichoke—Apr 11 – Apr 28—
Parsnip—Apr 13 – May 2Jul 27 – Aug 26
Dill—Apr 20 – May 9Jun 4 – Jun 24
Bush Bean—Apr 27 – May 16Jun 21 – Jul 1
Pole Bean—Apr 27 – May 16Jul 1 – Jul 11
Sweet Corn—Apr 27 – May 16Jul 1 – Aug 10
Edamame (Soybean)—Apr 27 – May 16Jul 16 – Aug 10
Amaranth (Leaf)—Apr 27 – May 16Jun 1 – Jun 21
Lima Bean—May 4 – May 23Jul 13 – Aug 12
Southern Pea (Cowpea)—May 4 – May 23Jul 8 – Aug 7
Sweet Potato—May 9 – May 26Aug 14 – Sep 13
Rutabaga———
Garlic———