| Plant | Zone 4a | Zone 4b |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Plant outside: May 12 to Jun 23 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 31 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 19 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 27 |
| Pepper | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 31 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 27 |
| Eggplant | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 31 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 27 |
| Cucumber | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 Start seeds indoors: around May 5 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 Start seeds indoors: around May 1 |
| Zucchini | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 Start seeds indoors: around May 5 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 Start seeds indoors: around May 1 |
| Winter squash | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 Start seeds indoors: around May 5 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 Start seeds indoors: around May 1 |
| Pumpkin | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 |
| Watermelon | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 28 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 24 |
| Okra | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 |
| Sweet potato | Plant outside: May 26 to Jul 7 | Plant outside: May 22 to Jul 3 |
| Green beans | Plant outside: May 12 to Jun 23 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 19 |
| Sweet corn | Plant outside: May 12 to Jun 23 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 19 |
| Lettuce | Plant outside: Apr 14 to Apr 28 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 17 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Apr 10 to Apr 24 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 13 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Spinach | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Kale | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 17 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 13 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Broccoli | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 17 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 13 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Cabbage | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 17 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 13 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Carrot | Plant outside: Apr 14 to Apr 28 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Apr 10 to Apr 24 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Beet | Plant outside: Apr 14 to Apr 28 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Apr 10 to Apr 24 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Radish | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 Fall crop: Aug 3 to Aug 31 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 Fall crop: Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Peas | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Onion | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 20 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 16 |
| Potato | Plant outside: Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Plant outside: Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Garlic | Plant cloves: Aug 31 to Oct 12 | Plant cloves: Sep 3 to Oct 15 |
Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so your own frost dates can be a week or two off the zone median. Look up your frost dates by ZIP code, or read all about zone 4a.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.