Vegetable Planting Calendars by Zip Code & Zones
Free printable Vegetable Planting Calendars by zip code & zones. Gardening schedule & planner on the best time to plant vegetables & herbs.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting your green thumb journey, knowing the best time to plant your veggies makes all the difference. Planting schedules can vary greatly depending on where you live. Therefore, an accurate vegetable planting calendar tailored specifically to your zip code is the key to starting a thriving garden!
While these planting calendars are helpful guides, it’s important to use them as a starting point. There are many effective ways to extend your growing season with row covers and DIY greenhouses. Each garden also has its own unique micro climate, influenced by factors like sun exposure, soil type, and nearby structures.
Maybe your garden warms up a bit earlier in the spring, or perhaps it’s a bit more sheltered from the wind. So, observe your garden’s specific conditions and make adjustments based on your experience. We also have two versions of blank planting calendars you can download at the end to create customized planting schedule that’s perfect for your very own garden oasis!
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Table of Contents
Step One: Finding Your Hardiness Zone by Zip Code
The USDA Hardiness Zones map is a widely used system developed by the US Department of Agriculture as a guide for landscaping and gardening, divided into 13 main zones, from Zone 1 (coldest) to Zone 13 (warmest).
Finding your local hardiness zone by zip code is super easy. The USDA provides a handy online tool to find your hardiness zone. Just enter your zip code in the search bar, and it will show you your zone. Scroll down to find the garden calendar for your zone.
As you can see in this chart above, frost dates are the main factor that affect our planting time. Some zones share the same first and last frost dates, which means similar planting times in the garden.
Understanding Micro-climates
Micro-climates are small areas within your general hardiness zone that have slightly different conditions. These small nuances can have a big impact on your vegetable’s growth and yield.
- Urban vs. Rural Areas: Cities tend to be warmer than surrounding rural areas due to buildings and pavement absorbing and retaining heat.
- Elevation: Higher elevations are cooler than lower areas, even within the same zone.
- Proximity to Water: Areas near large bodies of water tend to have milder temperatures.
- Shelter from Wind: Buildings, trees, and other structures can protect areas from wind, creating a warmer micro climate.
- Sun Exposure: South-facing slopes or walls receive more sunlight and can be warmer than shaded areas.
Understanding these factors will help you make the most of your garden and fine tune the planting calendar into the best guide for your vegetable gardening!
Planting calendar for USDA zones 3 and 4
The USDA Hardiness Zones 3 and 4 cover some of the coldest areas of the United States, including parts of Alaska, northern Idaho, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, northern New York and New England, and from the Canadian border south into parts of the Colorado Rockies.
In cold regions, extending the growing season and selecting cold hardy vegetable varieties are really important factors for a successful garden. Here are 24 Best Varieties for Winter Vegetable Gardens and 45 inspiring DIY greenhouse ideas, from simple hoop tunnels and cold frames to attractive sheds made from reclaimed windows.
Planting calendar for USDA zones 5, 6 and 7
Even though the frost dates are similar, the average temperatures in Zone 5 is cooler than in Zone 7. This can affect the soil temperature, which is crucial for seed germination. Cooler zones might need to start seeds indoors a little earlier or choose slightly different planting dates. In warmer parts of Zone 7, take advantage of the longer growing season to plant quick-growing crops later in the season.
The USDA Hardiness Zones 5, 6 and 7 span from southern Maine and central New England to northern Nevada and western Oregon, including parts of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, northern Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and eastern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Planting calendar for USDA zone 8
The USDA Zone 8 stretches from coastal Virginia and North Carolina to central Texas, including most of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, central Texas, eastern California, and most of Oregon and Washington.
Planting calendar for USDA zones 9, 10 and 11
The USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11 include the warmest regions of the United States with the longest growing seasons, from Florida, southern Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, California, to coastal Oregon and Washington, and much of Hawaii.
Blank vegetable planting calendars
Save and print these blank planting calendars to make your own custom garden planners. As mentioned earlier, micro-climate makes a huge difference. For example, our friends who are just 4 miles inland from us can plant their tomatoes a month earlier, because they don’t have the coastal fog in May and June.
Since we can’t include every plant under the sun, here’s a very pretty version of blank garden calendars for those adventurous gardeners who love to grow many varieties of veggies and herbs. 🙂
Happy planting! See you soon!
