Year-Round Planting Guide: The Complete 12-Month Sowing Calendar for Flowers and Vegetables

March 20, 2026

Updated on May 11, 2026

13 mins read

A complete month-by-month planting guide for US gardeners covering every season, USDA zone tips, and exactly what to sow, plant, and harvest from January through December.

If there is one gardening resource that earns its bookmark every single year, it is a good planting calendar. Not a vague seasonal overview, and not a generic list of spring vegetables — but a genuine month-by-month guide that tells you exactly what to sow, plant, divide, and harvest in your specific part of the country, from the first gray days of January through the last mild weeks of December.

That is what this guide is. It covers every month, every major plant category, and every USDA hardiness zone from 3 to 10. Whether you are a first-year gardener wondering when to start tomato seeds, or an experienced grower mapping out a full-season succession plan, this is the reference you will return to every month of the year.

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Search trends confirm what experienced gardeners already know: “what to plant in [month]” is one of the most consistent year-round queries in gardening. Unlike trend-driven content, a planting calendar compounds in value — it is just as relevant in its fifth year as it was on day one, because the growing season never changes.

How to Use This Guide

Understanding USDA Hardiness Zones

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 13 zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures, with each zone representing a 10°F range. Zone 3 covers the coldest regions (northern Minnesota, Montana, parts of Maine), while Zone 10 covers the warmest (southern California, south Florida, Hawaii).

For a planting calendar, the zone system tells you two critical things: how cold your winters get (which determines what survives outdoors year-round) and, indirectly, how long your frost-free growing season is. Most of the continental US falls in zones 5 through 8.

Zone	Min Winter Temp	Typical Last Frost	Typical First Frost	Example States/Cities
3	-40 to -30°F	May–June	September	Northern MN, northern MT, VT highlands
4	-30 to -20°F	May	September–October	Minneapolis, Duluth, central WI
5	-20 to -10°F	April–May	October	Chicago, Denver, Columbus OH
6	-10 to 0°F	April	October–November	St. Louis, Philadelphia, Portland OR
7	0 to 10°F	March–April	November	Washington DC, Nashville, Albuquerque
8	10 to 20°F	February–March	November–December	Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta
9	20 to 30°F	January–February	December	Los Angeles, Houston, Tucson
10	30 to 40°F	None (frost rare)	None (frost rare)	Miami, Key West, Honolulu

Why Frost Dates Matter More Than Calendar Months

Every month-by-month planting recommendation in this guide assumes you know your last spring frost date and your first autumn frost date. These two dates define your outdoor growing window. The NC State Extension frost date database, searchable by zip code, is the most accurate tool for US gardeners to find their personal dates. University of Minnesota Extension similarly offers detailed frost calendars for northern zones.

As a rule: start warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash, basil) indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date, and transplant outdoors only after that date has passed. Direct sow cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, peas, kale) 4–6 weeks before the last frost date — they can tolerate light frosts.

Use our Interactive Seasonal Calendar to find tasks specific to your zone at any time of year.

Season 1: Winter (December, January, February)

Winter is the planning and preparation season for gardeners in zones 3–7. In zones 8–10, it is a full growing season in its own right — mild winters allow cool-season vegetables, brassicas, and many flowers to thrive outdoors from November through March.

For colder zones, the most valuable thing you can do in winter is plan on paper. Order seed catalogs from suppliers like Thompson & Morgan in January, map out your beds, and calculate succession sowing windows before the season begins. Time spent planning in February saves costly mistakes in May.

Task	Indoors	Outdoors	Zones
Order seeds and seed catalogs	✓		All
Sow onions, leeks, and celery indoors	✓		3–7 (Jan–Feb)
Start sweet peas indoors (Jan)	✓		5–8
Plant bare-root roses and trees during thaws		✓	6–9
Direct sow cool-season veg outdoors		✓	8–10
Plant garlic and onion sets		✓	8–10
Sow peas outdoors under cover		✓	7–8 (Feb)
Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees		✓	5–9 (late Feb)
Check stored bulbs and tubers for rot	✓		All
Clean and sharpen tools	✓		All

In zones 3–5, January and February are largely indoor months. Use a sunny south-facing window or grow lights to start slow-growing crops: onions, leeks, and celery all need 10–12 weeks indoors before transplanting and should go under lights as early as late January. See our complete guide to What to Plant in Winter for detailed crop lists by zone.

In zones 8–10, winter is prime growing season. Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, lettuce, spinach, chard, carrots, beets, and most brassicas can be direct sown or transplanted outdoors from October through February. Cool-season annuals — pansies, snapdragons, stock, and alyssum — perform best in winter rather than summer in these zones.

Keep your garden protected through the cold months with strategies from our Winterising Your Garden guide.

Season 2: Spring (March, April, May)

Spring is the most intense and exciting season in the garden. In zones 5–7, March through May represents the transformation from dormancy to full growth, and the range of what you can sow or plant expands dramatically week by week. Understanding what opens up when — and why — allows you to hit the ground running rather than scrambling to catch up.

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Raised garden beds in spring with lettuce, peas and marigolds growing in warm morning light — Spring is the most active planting season — from March onwards the list of what you can sow or plant outdoors grows week by week.

March: The Seed-Starting Engine

March is primarily an indoor month for zones 4–6, but it is one of the most productive months of the gardening year. The critical tasks happen under grow lights or on bright windowsills, not in the frozen ground.

Start tomatoes and peppers indoors — 6–8 weeks before last frost (zones 5–6: late March; zones 7–8: early March). Penn State Extension recommends counting back from your area’s last frost date rather than using a fixed calendar date.
Direct sow cool-season crops outdoors (zones 6–8): peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and kale can go in the ground 4–6 weeks before last frost. They tolerate soil temperatures as low as 35°F.
Start summer flowers indoors: marigolds, zinnias, impatiens, and petunias need 6–8 weeks before transplanting.
Plant bare-root perennials and trees (zones 6–9) while they are still dormant — bare-root establishment is faster and cheaper than container plants.
Divide ornamental grasses as new growth emerges at the base.

In zones 8–10, March is full-swing planting season. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and beans can go in the ground directly. Warm-season annuals like zinnias and marigolds can be direct sown from mid-March onwards.

April: The Main Outdoor Push Begins

April is the month when the outdoor planting season begins in earnest for the majority of US gardeners. Soil temperatures are rising (aim for at least 50°F for most vegetable transplants, 60°F for warm-season crops), and the risk of killing frosts is diminishing zone by zone.

Harden off tomato and pepper seedlings for 7–10 days before transplanting.
Direct sow: beets, carrots, Swiss chard, turnips, arugula, cilantro (zones 5–7 by mid-April; zones 3–4 by late April).
Plant potatoes 2–4 weeks before last frost date. Oregon State University Extension recommends planting when soil is at least 45°F to prevent rot.
Transplant cool-season brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage transplants can go out 3–4 weeks before last frost.
Sow annual flower seeds outdoors (zones 7–8): zinnias, sunflowers, and cosmos once soil is consistently above 60°F.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs (zones 7+): dahlia tubers, gladiolus corms, canna rhizomes.

Check our Spring Gardening Checklist for a comprehensive task list covering all three spring months, including soil preparation, pest monitoring, and lawn care.

May: The Last Frost Passes

For most of the country (zones 5–7), May is when the last frost date arrives and the full planting season opens. This is the month for warm-season crops that cannot tolerate any frost.

Transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil after last frost has passed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F.
Direct sow warm-season crops: squash, cucumbers, beans, corn, and melons once soil is above 60°F.
Plant summer annuals and container flowers: petunias, impatiens, begonias, and geraniums thrive from May onwards in zones 5–7.
Sow second round of cool-season crops in zones 8–10, as cooler temperatures return after summer.
Plant dahlia tubers, gladiolus corms, and cannas (all zones after last frost).

Season 3: Summer (June, July, August)

Summer is the care and harvest season for warm-season crops, but it is not a planting dead zone. Succession sowing, second-crop planting, and advance planning for autumn are all essential summer tasks that keep the garden productive through September and beyond.

June: Peak Growth and Succession Sowing

Succession sow beans, cucumbers, and corn every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvests through August (zones 5–7).
Sow winter squash and pumpkins by mid-June in zones 5–6 (they need 90–120 days to maturity before first frost).
Direct sow biennials for next year: hollyhocks, foxgloves, sweet William, and wallflowers sown in June bloom the following spring.
Deadhead roses and perennials to extend bloom periods.
Begin ordering autumn bulbs from suppliers like Crocus or Thompson & Morgan — tulip, daffodil, allium, and crocus bulbs are best ordered in summer for September–November planting. Early ordering ensures the best variety selection before popular varieties sell out.

July: Heat Management and Forward Planning

Sow autumn and winter brassicas (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage) indoors for transplanting in August (zones 5–7). These crops need to be established before late summer heat breaks but mature in cooler autumn weather.
Direct sow fast-maturing crops for autumn harvest: bush beans can be sown up to 8 weeks before first frost for a late crop.
Water deeply and mulch: in zones 6–9, mulching vegetable beds with 3–4 inches of straw or wood chips dramatically reduces water needs and soil temperature.
Take cuttings of tender perennials (pelargoniums, fuchsias, impatiens) to overwinter indoors — far cheaper than buying new plants next spring.

August: The Autumn Countdown

Sow autumn salad crops: lettuce, spinach, arugula, and radishes sown in August mature in cooler September and October weather — when they taste far better than their summer equivalents.
Transplant brassica seedlings started in July into their final positions.
Sow cover crops on empty beds: clover, winter rye, and buckwheat improve soil structure and suppress weeds over winter.
Continue bulb ordering: confirm your autumn bulb order placed in June or place a new one now.
Zone 7 gardeners: for exact planting windows, pruning rules, and harvest timing by subzone, see the Zone 7 August Garden Checklist.

Read our complete Summer Garden Care guide for month-by-month watering, feeding, pruning, and pest management tasks. For a full August task list including spring bulb ordering, seed saving, iris division, and zone-specific planting, see the August Garden Jobs guide.

Season 4: Autumn (September, October, November)

Autumn is the most underrated planting season in American gardening. While many gardeners treat it as a wind-down period, experienced growers know it is when some of the year’s most important planting happens — spring bulbs, garlic, overwintering brassicas, and hardy perennials all go in the ground between September and November.

Hands planting tulip bulbs in garden soil in autumn with a trug of mixed spring bulbs nearby — Autumn is the season for planting spring bulbs — tulips, daffodils and alliums all go in between September and November for a spectacular spring display.

September: Bulbs, Garlic, and Cool-Season Crops

Plant garlic from mid-September onwards in zones 4–6; October for zones 7–8; November for zones 9–10. Garlic planted in autumn produces far larger bulbs than spring-planted garlic — it needs a cold period (vernalization) to develop properly. University of Minnesota Extension recommends planting 6 weeks before hard freeze for best results.
Begin planting spring bulbs: daffodils, crocuses, and alliums can go in from mid-September in zones 3–5.
Direct sow cool-season crops: spinach, lettuce, arugula, kale, and Swiss chard sown in September mature before hard frosts in zones 6–8; in zones 9–10, this is the start of peak vegetable growing season.
Divide hostas, daylilies, and ornamental grasses: autumn division gives plants 6–8 weeks to establish before hard frost.
Plant balled-and-burlapped trees and shrubs: autumn planting gives roots time to establish before winter dormancy and reduces transplant shock compared to spring planting.

October: The Big Bulb Push

October is prime bulb-planting month for most of the US (zones 4–7). The soil is still workable but cool enough for bulbs to develop roots before the ground freezes.

Plant tulip bulbs in October–November (zones 4–7). Tulips need a cold period and should go in later than other bulbs — ideally when soil temperature drops to 40–50°F. In zones 8–10, pre-chilled tulip bulbs planted in December perform better than uncooled autumn plantings.
Complete daffodil and allium planting by mid-October for most zones.
Plant hardy pansies and violas for winter/early spring color in zones 6–9.
Sow wildflower seeds: many native wildflowers require cold stratification and can be sown in autumn to germinate naturally in spring.
Lift and store tender tubers: dahlias, cannas, and gladiolus corms must be dug up before hard frost in zones 3–7 and stored indoors over winter.

For zone-by-zone tulip timing, the lasagne planting method, and a full breakdown of every October task including lawn renovation, bare-root trees and lifting dahlias, see the October garden jobs guide.

Stop missing your zone's planting windows.

Select your US zone and month — get a complete checklist of what to plant, prune, feed, and protect right now.

→ View My Garden Calendar

Also free:Plant Pairs Layout Designer Frost Dates See all 9 →

November: Wrapping Up and Winterising

Complete all bulb planting before ground freezes (zones 4–6 by mid-November at latest).
Apply mulch to perennial beds: 3–4 inches of shredded leaves or straw protects roots and moderates soil temperature fluctuations that heave plants out of the ground.
Plant cover crops on empty beds if not already done.
Continue harvesting: kale, Brussels sprouts, leeks, and carrots are frost-hardy and often taste better after a freeze in zones 5–7.
Order seed catalogs and begin planning next year’s garden — the best varieties sell out by February.

For a complete zone-by-zone breakdown of everything worth doing in November — from tulip last-call timing and amaryllis forcing to bare-root planting and winter sowing — see our November Planting Guide. See our Autumn Gardening Checklist for a full task-by-task breakdown for September, October, and November.

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Master Planting Calendar

This reference table summarizes what to focus on in each plant category, month by month. Timing is given for zones 5–7 (the most common US gardening range); adjust 2–4 weeks earlier for zones 8–10 and 2–4 weeks later for zones 3–4.

Month	Vegetables	Flowers	Bulbs	Houseplants	Lawn
January	Start onions, leeks indoors; plan crop rotations	Start sweet peas indoors	Force hyacinths indoors; check stored bulbs	Reduce watering; check for pests	Avoid walking on frozen grass
February	Start peppers indoors (late Feb); sow spinach indoors	Start violas, snapdragons, stocks indoors	Start dahlia tubers in pots (late Feb)	Begin repotting as light improves	Apply dormant seed in bare patches (zones 7–9)
March	Start tomatoes, eggplant indoors; direct sow peas, spinach, lettuce outdoors (zones 6–8)	Start zinnias, marigolds, impatiens indoors; sow hardy annuals outdoors (zones 7–8)	Plant summer bulbs in pots indoors; purchase gladiolus corms	Resume regular feeding; start propagating cuttings	Dethatch and overseed (zones 7–8); wait for soil to dry before mowing
April	Direct sow beets, carrots, chard; transplant cool-season brassica transplants; plant potatoes	Transplant cool-season annuals outdoors; direct sow hardy annuals	Plant gladiolus corms outdoors (zones 7–8); purchase dahlias	Move houseplants to brighter positions; increase watering	Overseed bare patches (zones 5–7); apply pre-emergent herbicide (zones 6–8)
May	Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil after last frost; direct sow beans, squash, cucumbers	Plant summer annuals outdoors; direct sow zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos	Plant dahlias, cannas, gladiolus after last frost	Begin moving tropical houseplants to patios or porches	First full mow; start regular mowing schedule
June	Succession sow beans, cucumbers, corn; sow winter squash and pumpkins by mid-June	Sow biennials (hollyhock, foxglove) for next year; deadhead to extend blooms	Order autumn bulbs early for best selection	Outdoor vacation for many tropicals; feed monthly	Water deeply 1 inch per week; raise mower height for summer
July	Start brassicas indoors for autumn; sow fast beans for late harvest	Take cuttings of tender perennials; deadhead roses	Confirm autumn bulb order; check dahlia stakes	Watch for spider mites in heat; mist foliage	Avoid mowing in drought; let grass go dormant if needed
August	Sow autumn salads (lettuce, spinach, arugula, radish); transplant brassica seedlings	Sow ornamental kale, pansies, violas for autumn color	Plant autumn crocus and colchicum now; bulb order should arrive	Prepare for indoor return in zones 5–7; check for hitchhiker pests	Late summer overseeding prep; aerate lawn (zones 5–7)
September	Direct sow kale, spinach, Asian greens; plant garlic from mid-month	Plant spring-blooming biennials; divide hostas and daylilies	Begin planting daffodils, alliums, crocuses	Bring tropicals indoors before nighttime temps drop below 55°F	Best month to overseed cool-season lawns (zones 5–7); fertilize
October	Harvest root vegetables before hard frost; plant garlic (zones 6–8)	Plant hardy pansies and violas; sow wildflower seeds; lift dahlias	Main tulip and daffodil planting month (zones 4–7); complete alliums	Houseplants settled back indoors; reduce feeding	Last mow of season; apply winter fertilizer (zones 5–7)
November	Complete garlic planting; mulch root vegetables to extend harvest	Apply mulch to protect perennial crowns; plant tulips (zones 4–6)	Final tulip planting window before ground freezes	Reduce watering as light levels drop; no feeding until February	Rake leaves to prevent smothering grass; last light mow if needed
December	Order seed catalogs; plan crop rotations for next year; direct sow outdoors (zones 9–10)	Forced bulbs for indoor color; sow seeds in cold frame (zones 7–8)	Pre-chill tulip bulbs for zones 8–10 planting; force paperwhites indoors	Minimal care; bright light and cool temps for most succulents and cacti	No action needed (zones 3–7); overseed winter ryegrass (zones 8–10)

Your Month-by-Month Planting Guides

This hub links to a complete set of dedicated monthly guides, each covering specific sowing and planting tasks, zone-by-zone timing, and key jobs for that time of year. Use them throughout the season as your detailed monthly reference.

January Planting Guide — seed planning, indoor sowing, winter interest plants
February Planting Guide — the seed-starting season begins
March Planting Guide — tomatoes, peppers, and cool-season crops
April Planting Guide — the outdoor planting season opens
May Planting Guide — after last frost: full warm-season planting
June Planting Guide — succession sowing and summer care
July Garden Jobs — heat management, autumn prep, brassica sowing
August Garden Jobs — autumn salads, cover crops, bulb orders
September Planting Guide — garlic, bulbs, cool-season crops
October Garden Jobs — tulips, daffodils, and the big bulb push
November Planting Guide — final bulbs, mulching, winterising
December Garden Jobs — planning, forced bulbs, cold-frame growing

Seeds and Bulbs: Where to Buy

Sourcing quality seeds and bulbs is as important as timing. Two suppliers consistently deliver high germination rates and reliable variety availability for US gardeners:

Thompson & Morgan — one of the world’s largest seed suppliers, with an extensive range of vegetable, flower, and herb seeds suited to US growing conditions. Particularly strong for heritage vegetable varieties and exclusive F1 hybrids.
Crocus — excellent for spring and autumn bulbs, with a wide range of tulip, daffodil, allium, and specialist bulb varieties. Order in June–July for the best autumn planting selection before popular varieties sell out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What month should I start a garden?

The best time to start a garden depends on your zone, but the planning begins in January–February (ordering seeds and catalogs), indoor seed starting begins in February–March, and outdoor planting begins in March–May depending on your last frost date. If you are starting a brand-new garden, April is the most practical month for most US gardeners — the soil is workable, the risk of hard frost is diminishing, and both cool-season and warm-season crops can be planted within a few weeks of each other.

What can I plant right now?

This depends on your zone and the current month. As a quick guide: if it is winter (zones 3–7), start seeds indoors — onions, leeks, sweet peas, and snapdragons are all appropriate depending on the month. If it is spring (all zones), prioritize cool-season crops outdoors and warm-season crops indoors. If it is summer, focus on succession sowing fast crops and ordering autumn bulbs. If it is autumn, plant bulbs, garlic, and cool-season vegetables. Use the Master Planting Calendar table above to find your current month and category.

What grows fastest from seed?

The fastest-maturing crops from direct sowing are radishes (21–30 days), arugula (30–40 days), lettuce (45–60 days), bush beans (50–60 days), and baby spinach (40–50 days for baby leaves). Among flowers, marigolds (50–60 days), sunflowers (60–70 days), and nasturtiums (50–60 days) are among the quickest from direct sowing. If you need colour fast, nasturtiums are the best choice — sow directly in the ground after last frost and flowers appear in under 8 weeks.

Year-Round Planting Guide: The Complete 12-Month Sowing Calendar for Flowers and Vegetables