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Zone 4A Vegetable Planting Calendar

When can you plant in Zone 4A? In Zone 4A, outdoor sowing opens with cool-season crops like Lettuce and Spinach in April, and warm-season crops like Tomato follow after the ~May 20 last frost. The season runs about 128 frost-free days, until ~September 25. The calendar below scores all 35 crops month by month.

Scored per crop from your zone's frost dates, each crop's days-to-maturity, and typical soil temperatures — honestly, including when not to plant.

A zone caveat: USDA zones reflect winter lows, not summer heat — this calendar is a zone-level guide. For timing tuned to your exact zip code, sun, and soil, get your free AI garden plan.

Last frost (50/50 date)
~May 20
First frost (50/50 date)
~September 25

A single frost date is a coin flip dressed up as a fact: these are the 50/50 dates, and about half of years see frost past them. Across 4,330 NOAA stations, frost odds typically stay near 1 in 3 for about a week past the date and don't drop below 1 in 10 until roughly 16 days past it — cautious growers wait those two-plus weeks; gamblers plant on the date and keep row cover handy. The free AI plan reads the real percentile dates for your zip and lets you pick your risk.

Good — plant now Risky — possible with care Off-season — wait

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Plus a short what-to-plant-now note for Zone 4A each month.

Zone 4A monthly planting guide — status and reason per crop and month
CropJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Cool-season crops
LettuceOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
SpinachOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
KaleOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Swiss ChardOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ArugulaOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CarrotOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
RadishOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BeetOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BroccoliOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CabbageOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CauliflowerOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PeasOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
OnionOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PotatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CilantroOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ParsleyOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Fall-planted bulbs
GarlicOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — wait
Warm-season crops
TomatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PepperOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
EggplantOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BasilOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ZucchiniOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CucumberOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BeanOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CornOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PumpkinOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
SunflowerOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Heat lovers
OkraOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with care; Fits only with short-season varieties — choose the fastest days-to-maturity you can find.Off-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Sweet PotatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
WatermelonOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CantaloupeOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Perennial herbs
RosemaryOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ThymeOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
OreganoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ChivesOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — wait

When to Start Seeds Indoors vs. Direct Sow in Zone 4A

In Zone 4A, start Onion, Rosemary, Eggplant and other transplants indoors 5–10 weeks before your ~May 20 last frost, then set them out once it passes. Arugula, Bean, Beet and the other direct-sow crops go straight into the bed. Exact indoor start dates for every crop are below.

Zone 4A seed-starting guide — sowing method and indoor start date per crop
CropHow to startStart seeds indoors
OnionStart indoors, then transplantor plant sets for a shortcut~Mar 11 (10 wks before last frost)
RosemaryStart indoors, then transplantpainfully slow from seed — a nursery plant is the honest shortcut~Mar 11 (10 wks before last frost)
EggplantStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 25 (8 wks before last frost)
OreganoStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 25 (8 wks before last frost)
PepperStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 25 (8 wks before last frost)
ThymeStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 25 (8 wks before last frost)
Sweet PotatoStart indoors, then transplantgrown from slips (sprouted tubers), not seed~Apr 8 (6 wks before last frost)
TomatoStart indoors, then transplant~Apr 8 (6 wks before last frost)
BroccoliStart indoors, then transplant~Apr 15 (5 wks before last frost)
CabbageStart indoors, then transplant~Apr 15 (5 wks before last frost)
CauliflowerStart indoors, then transplant~Apr 15 (5 wks before last frost)
ChivesEither works~Mar 25 (8 wks before last frost)
ParsleyEither worksgermination takes 2–3 weeks — be patient~Mar 25 (8 wks before last frost)
KaleEither works~Apr 15 (5 wks before last frost)
BasilEither works~Apr 22 (4 wks before last frost)
LettuceEither works~Apr 22 (4 wks before last frost)
OkraEither works~Apr 22 (4 wks before last frost)
Swiss ChardEither works~Apr 22 (4 wks before last frost)
CantaloupeEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Apr 29 (3 wks before last frost)
CucumberEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Apr 29 (3 wks before last frost)
PumpkinEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Apr 29 (3 wks before last frost)
WatermelonEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Apr 29 (3 wks before last frost)
ZucchiniEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Apr 29 (3 wks before last frost)
ArugulaDirect sow in the bed
BeanDirect sow in the bedrots in cold, wet soil — wait for warmth
BeetDirect sow in the bed
CarrotDirect sow in the bedtaproot — never transplants well
CilantroDirect sow in the bedtaproot + quick to bolt — sow in place
CornDirect sow in the bed
GarlicDirect sow in the bedplant cloves in fall
PeasDirect sow in the bed
PotatoDirect sow in the bedfrom seed potatoes, not seed
RadishDirect sow in the bed
SpinachDirect sow in the bedresents transplanting — sow where it grows
SunflowerDirect sow in the bedtaproot — sow in place

Planting a fall garden? Count the indoor weeks back from your transplant date instead of the spring frost — the free AI plan's prep runway computes that per plant, including hardening-off days.

Zone 4A Planting FAQ

When is the last frost in Zone 4A?

Around May 20 — and that's the 50/50 date, not a guarantee: about half of years see frost after it. Cautious growers wait roughly two extra weeks; gamblers plant on the date and keep row cover handy.

When is the first fall frost in Zone 4A?

Around September 25 on average. Count backward from it when planning fall crops: a 70-day crop needs to be in the ground at least 10 weeks earlier, plus a buffer for shortening days.

When should I start seeds indoors in Zone 4A?

It depends on the crop's lead time: peppers ~Mar 25, tomatos ~Apr 8, broccolis ~Apr 15 — generally 5–10 weeks before the ~May 20 last frost. The seed-starting table on this page lists every crop.

How long is the growing season in Zone 4A?

Roughly 128 frost-free days, from about May 20 to September 25. Crops whose days-to-maturity fit comfortably inside that window are the reliable ones — the calendar above scores exactly that.

What vegetables can you grow in Zone 4A?

This calendar tracks 35 crops for Zone 4A — Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, and more — with honest month-by-month verdicts including when NOT to plant. For a layout tuned to your exact zip code and bed size, the free AI plan does the placing for you.

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Plus a short what-to-plant-now note for Zone 4A each month.