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What Plant Seeds to Plant and When: A U.S. Gardening Guide

Knowing when to plant seeds is one of the most important steps toward a successful garden. The best planting time depends on your location, last spring frost, first fall frost, and the type of plant you are growing.

Whether you're growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, or pollinator-friendly plants, this guide will help you know what to plant and when throughout the United States.

🌱 Understanding Your Planting Zone

The United States is divided into USDA Plant Hardiness Zones based on average winter temperatures. Your zone is helpful for determining which perennial plants can survive winter, but vegetable and flower seeds also depend heavily on your local frost dates and weather.

Before planting outdoors, find your area's:

• Average last spring frost date
• Average first fall frost date
• USDA Hardiness Zone
• Recommended planting dates for your area

As a general rule, warm-season crops should be planted after the danger of frost has passed, while many cool-season crops can tolerate light frost.

🌷 Early Spring: February–March

Early spring is the perfect time to start many seeds indoors and plant cold-tolerant crops outdoors in warmer regions.

Start Indoors

Depending on your location, consider starting:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Eggplant
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Herbs
• Marigolds
• Petunias
• Zinnias

Plant Outdoors

In warmer parts of the southern United States, you can begin planting:

• Peas
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Carrots
• Beets
• Kale
• Swiss chard
• Onions
• Potatoes

Gardeners in northern states may need to wait until the soil warms and the danger of severe frost has passed.

🌱 Mid to Late Spring: April–May

Spring is one of the busiest planting seasons for gardeners across much of the United States.

Once the soil has warmed and the risk of frost is decreasing, you can begin planting many vegetables and flowers.

Vegetable Seeds

Popular choices include:

• Beans
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Summer squash
• Zucchini
• Pumpkins
• Carrots
• Beets
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Swiss chard

Flower Seeds

Spring is also an excellent time to plant:

• Sunflowers
• Zinnias
• Marigolds
• Cosmos
• Nasturtiums
• Bachelor buttons
• Calendula
• Alyssum

Warm-Season Vegetables

After your area's last frost date, plant:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Eggplant
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Squash
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes

Tip: Don't rush warm-season plants into cold soil. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and other heat-loving crops grow best when temperatures are consistently warm.

☀️ Summer: June–July

Summer planting doesn't have to stop once spring is over. Many vegetables can be planted throughout summer for a second harvest.

Good Summer Plantings

Consider planting:

• Bush beans
• Cucumbers
• Summer squash
• Carrots
• Beets
• Radishes
• Swiss chard
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Green onions

You can also start seeds for a fall garden during summer.

For fall crops, start seeds early enough to allow plants to mature before your first fall frost.

Herbs to Plant

Summer is also a great time for herbs such as:

• Basil
• Dill
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Chives
• Oregano

🍂 Late Summer–Fall: August–September

As temperatures begin to cool, gardeners in many areas can plant another round of cool-season vegetables.

Fall Garden Favorites

• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Radishes
• Carrots
• Beets
• Turnips
• Peas
• Swiss chard

Fall is also an excellent time to plant many flower seeds and perennial seeds, particularly those that benefit from a period of cold, known as cold stratification.

❄️ Late Fall–Winter: October–January

Winter doesn't necessarily mean the end of gardening.

In warmer regions of the United States, gardeners may continue growing cool-season vegetables throughout winter.

Depending on your climate, you may be able to grow:

• Kale
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Peas
• Onions
• Herbs

In colder climates, winter is a great time to:

• Plan next year's garden
• Order seeds
• Start seeds indoors
• Clean and organize gardening supplies
• Test and improve your soil
• Build seed-starting stations
• Review last year's garden results

🇺🇸 Regional U.S. Planting Guide

Because the United States has such a wide range of climates, planting times can vary significantly.

Northeast

States such as New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine generally have shorter growing seasons.

Spring: Peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, and brassicas.

Late Spring: Tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, and corn.

Summer: Beans, cucumbers, squash, and succession crops.

Fall: Kale, spinach, lettuce, carrots, and other cool-season vegetables.

Southeast

States such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi have longer growing seasons and, in many areas, can support multiple planting seasons.

Fall and Winter: Lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peas, and other cool-season crops.

Spring: Beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and herbs.

Summer: Heat-loving crops such as okra, Southern peas, sweet potatoes, and certain beans.

In the hottest parts of the Southeast, summer gardening may require heat-tolerant varieties and careful watering.

Midwest

States such as Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota generally have distinct spring, summer, and fall growing seasons.

Early Spring: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, carrots, and onions.

Late Spring: Tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, cucumbers, and squash.

Summer: Beans, cucumbers, squash, herbs, and succession plantings.

Late Summer/Fall: Spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, carrots, and other cool-season crops.

Southwest

The Southwest can have very different planting schedules because of intense summer heat and varying elevations.

In many lower-elevation areas, fall, winter, and early spring can be excellent growing seasons.

Consider:

• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Peas
• Onions

Warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and melons are generally planted during the warmer portion of the growing season.

Pacific Northwest

Cooler temperatures and wet winters influence planting schedules throughout much of the Pacific Northwest.

Popular crops include:

• Peas
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Potatoes
• Beans
• Cucumbers
• Squash
• Tomatoes

Gardeners often start warm-season crops indoors before transplanting them outside after the weather warms.

West Coast

California and other coastal areas can have exceptionally long growing seasons, but planting schedules vary dramatically by location.

Cool-season crops may perform well during fall, winter, and early spring, while warm-season crops are typically planted during spring and summer.

Popular choices include:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Beans
• Cucumbers
• Squash
• Herbs
• Broccoli
• Kale

🌻 Flowers: When Should You Plant Flower Seeds?

Flower planting times vary by species.

Cool-Season Flowers

These can often be planted earlier in spring:

• Calendula
• Pansies
• Sweet peas
• Alyssum
• Bachelor buttons

Warm-Season Flowers

Wait until the danger of frost has passed:

• Sunflowers
• Zinnias
• Marigolds
• Cosmos
• Nasturtiums

Some perennial flower seeds may be planted in fall so they can experience natural winter conditions before germinating in spring.

🌿 Don't Forget Herbs

Herbs are among the easiest plants to grow from seed.

Cool-Season Herbs

• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Chives

Warm-Season Herbs

• Basil
• Dill
• Oregano
• Thyme

Many herbs can be grown in containers, making them a great option for patios, balconies, and small gardens.

🌱 Direct Sow or Start Indoors?

Not every seed needs to be started indoors.

Best Seeds to Direct Sow

Many gardeners have success sowing these directly into the garden:

• Carrots
• Radishes
• Beans
• Peas
• Corn
• Beets
• Cucumbers
• Squash
• Pumpkins
• Sunflowers

Seeds Often Started Indoors

Starting seeds indoors can give slower-growing plants a head start:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Eggplant
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Many annual flowers

Always check the seed packet for the recommended planting method and timing.

📅 A Simple U.S. Seed-Planting Calendar

Season	Seeds to Consider
Winter	Start tomatoes, peppers, flowers indoors; grow cool-season crops in warm regions
Early Spring	Peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, kale, broccoli
Late Spring	Tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, sunflowers
Summer	Beans, cucumbers, squash, herbs, second plantings
Late Summer	Start fall crops such as kale, lettuce, spinach, carrots, and broccoli
Fall	Cool-season vegetables and selected perennial/flower seeds
Winter	Garden planning, seed starting, and cool-season crops in warm climates

🌱 The Most Important Rule: Know Your Local Frost Dates

A planting calendar is a helpful starting point, but your local weather matters most.

The same seed might be planted in January in southern Florida, March in Georgia, April in Pennsylvania, and May in parts of Maine.

For the best results, check your local frost dates and follow the planting instructions on your seed packet. Soil temperature is also important for many seeds, especially warm-season vegetables.

Start Small and Keep Planting!

One of the best ways to become a successful gardener is to experiment. Plant a few varieties, keep notes about when you planted them, and record what performed well.

With the right seeds, good soil, adequate moisture, sunlight, and proper timing, you can enjoy a productive garden throughout much of the year.

Happy planting! 🌱