My Planting Calendar

What to plant in March in zone 4

USDA zone 4 has winter lows of -30 to -20°F, a typical last spring frost around May 10 and first fall frost around Sep 25, roughly 135 frost-free days. March is the "seed-starting season" there.

40 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including mache (corn salad), pea, spinach - and 5 of those windows close during March.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 4 (last frost May 10, first frost Sep 25). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

Seed-starting seasonSow or plant: 40Start indoors: 37Harvesting: 0

Zone 4: planting activity through the year

0
5
40
64
84
53
37
19
1
2
0
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: May 10 – Sep 25
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 40 have one in March; the busiest month is May (84).

Last chance in March

Celeriac (start seeds indoors, by Mar 1) · Celery (start seeds indoors, by Mar 8) · Leek (start seeds indoors, by Mar 8) · Onion (start seeds indoors, by Mar 8) · Rosemary (start seeds indoors, by Mar 8)

Sow or plant outdoors in March (3)

Direct sowing and transplanting windows that fall in March, most urgent first. Windows are one-to-two-week bands around the ideal date.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
Mache (Corn Salad)Direct sow (spring)Mar 31 – Apr 19Opens Mar 31
PeaDirect sow (spring)Mar 31 – Apr 19Opens Mar 31
SpinachDirect sow (spring)Mar 31 – Apr 19Opens Mar 31

Start seeds indoors in March (37)

Indoor sowings for transplants later. Six to eight weeks under lights is typical for tomatoes and peppers; onions and leeks need longer.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
CeleriacStart seeds indoorsFeb 15 – Mar 1Last chance - ends Mar 1
CeleryStart seeds indoorsFeb 22 – Mar 8Last chance - ends Mar 8
LeekStart seeds indoorsFeb 22 – Mar 8Last chance - ends Mar 8
OnionStart seeds indoorsFeb 22 – Mar 8Last chance - ends Mar 8
RosemaryStart seeds indoorsFeb 22 – Mar 8Last chance - ends Mar 8
EggplantStart seeds indoorsMar 1 – Mar 15Mar 1 – Mar 15
ParsleyStart seeds indoorsMar 1 – Mar 15Mar 1 – Mar 15
ShallotStart seeds indoorsMar 1 – Mar 15Mar 1 – Mar 15
Bell PepperStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
Chili PepperStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
GingerStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
Green Onion / ScallionStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
MintStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
OreganoStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
SageStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
TarragonStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
ThymeStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
TurmericStart seeds indoorsMar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 22
Ground CherryStart seeds indoorsMar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 29
Lemon BalmStart seeds indoorsMar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 29
Shiso (Perilla)Start seeds indoorsMar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 29
Sweet MarjoramStart seeds indoorsMar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatilloStart seeds indoorsMar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoStart seeds indoorsMar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 29
BroccoliStart seeds indoorsMar 22 – Apr 5Opens Mar 22
Brussels SproutsStart seeds indoorsMar 22 – Apr 5Opens Mar 22
CabbageStart seeds indoorsMar 22 – Apr 5Opens Mar 22
CauliflowerStart seeds indoorsMar 22 – Apr 5Opens Mar 22
KaleStart seeds indoorsMar 22 – Apr 5Opens Mar 22
BasilStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29
Collard GreensStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29
Endive & EscaroleStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29
KohlrabiStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29
Malabar SpinachStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29
OkraStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29
RadicchioStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29
Summer SavoryStart seeds indoorsMar 29 – Apr 12Opens Mar 29

Seed-starting season: March garden jobs in zone 4

  1. Start 37 crops indoors this month, including celeriac, celery, leek, onion. Use a sterile mix and good light - see starting seeds indoors.
  2. 8 weeks until the average last frost (May 10). The seed-starting calculator works out each crop's exact sowing date from it.
  3. Keep seedlings from stretching: lights 2-3 inches above the leaves for 14-16 hours a day, and a fan or a daily brush of the hand across the tops.
  4. Prepare beds as soon as the soil crumbles instead of smearing when squeezed - working wet soil ruins its structure for the season.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 4 in March?

40 crops have a window in March: mache (corn salad), pea, spinach, celeriac, celery, leek, onion, rosemary, eggplant, parsley and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

When are the last and first frost in zone 4?

The typical last spring frost is around May 10 and the first fall frost around Sep 25. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.

What should I start indoors in zone 4 in March?

Celeriac (Feb 15 – Mar 1), Celery (Feb 22 – Mar 8), Leek (Feb 22 – Mar 8), Onion (Feb 22 – Mar 8), Rosemary (Feb 22 – Mar 8), Eggplant (Mar 1 – Mar 15), Parsley (Mar 1 – Mar 15), Shallot (Mar 1 – Mar 15), Bell Pepper (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Chili Pepper (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Ginger (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Green Onion / Scallion (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Mint (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Oregano (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Sage (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Tarragon (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Thyme (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Turmeric (Mar 8 – Mar 22), Ground Cherry (Mar 15 – Mar 29), Lemon Balm (Mar 15 – Mar 29), Shiso (Perilla) (Mar 15 – Mar 29), Sweet Marjoram (Mar 15 – Mar 29), Tomatillo (Mar 15 – Mar 29), Tomato (Mar 15 – Mar 29), Broccoli (Mar 22 – Apr 5), Brussels Sprouts (Mar 22 – Apr 5), Cabbage (Mar 22 – Apr 5), Cauliflower (Mar 22 – Apr 5), Kale (Mar 22 – Apr 5), Basil (Mar 29 – Apr 12), Collard Greens (Mar 29 – Apr 12), Endive & Escarole (Mar 29 – Apr 12), Kohlrabi (Mar 29 – Apr 12), Malabar Spinach (Mar 29 – Apr 12), Okra (Mar 29 – Apr 12), Radicchio (Mar 29 – Apr 12), Summer Savory (Mar 29 – Apr 12).

March in states with land in zone 4

AlaskaArizonaColoradoIdahoIowaMaineMichiganMinnesotaMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew MexicoNew York

Zone 4 in other months

FebruaryAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberZone 4 overview →

What to plant in March in other zones

Zone 3Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10All states →

Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.