Free planting guide · PDF
Zone 2a planting guide
A one-page zone 2a planting guide for very cold gardens: when to plant vegetables relative to your frost dates, a fall planting method and how to pick perennials for zone 2a.
What is on this planting guide
Average coldest winter night -50 to -45°F (-46 to -43°C). Places in zone 2a include Alaska.
Zone 2a winters are among the coldest in the country, and frost dates vary a lot over short distances. Write in your own average last spring frost, then count from it.
Spring: when to plant
| Group | When | Crops | My date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy crops | 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost | Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, onion, peas, potato, radish, rhubarb, spinach, turnip | |
| Semi-hardy crops | 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost | Beet, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chard, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, mustard, parsnip | |
| Tender crops | After your last frost, once nights stay above 50°F | Bean, sweet corn, tomato | |
| Very tender crops | At least 2 weeks after your last frost, once nights stay above 60 to 65°F | Cucumber, eggplant, melons, okra, pepper, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato |
Fall garden
Count back from your first fall frost: days to harvest, plus about 14 days for slower fall growth, plus 14 more for frost-tender crops. Hardy choices: cabbage, carrots, turnips, rutabagas, kale.
Spring timing: Purdue Extension HO-186-W. Fall method: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension NebGuide G1343. Your zone by ZIP code: plantsdirectusa.com.
