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Growing Guides

Zone-by-Zone
Growing Guides

Every climate has its own rhythm. Select your zone below for specific planting windows, tips, and the crops that thrive where you live.

Zones 3–5 · AK, CO, ID, ME, MI, MN, MT, NH, ND, SD, VT, WI, WY

Farmer's Almanac: 3a · 3b · 4a · 4b · 5a · 5b

❄️ Cold Winters

Short but mighty. Every week counts.

Cold-climate gardening is all about working with a compressed timeline. Your soil thaws late and freezes early — but with the right crops and a few season-extension tricks, you can grow more than most people expect.

Growing Season

90–120 days

Last Frost

Late May – mid June

First Fall Frost

Early–mid September

Key Tips for Cold Winters

Start indoors early

Begin seeds 8–10 weeks before your last frost (around late March). Tomatoes, peppers, and brassicas all benefit from an early indoor start. Don't rush them outdoors — cold soil slows growth dramatically.

Use row covers and cold frames

A simple frost cloth or cold frame can add 3–4 weeks to each end of your season. This turns a 100-day season into a 130-day one — enough to ripen full-size tomatoes.

Choose short-season varieties

Look for 'days to maturity' under 70 for warm-season crops. Varieties like Stupice tomato (52 days) or Early Jalapeño were bred for climates like yours.

Lean into cold-hardy crops

Kale, spinach, peas, and root vegetables don't just survive cold — they thrive in it. Frost actually sweetens kale and carrots. These are your most reliable performers.

Mulch after first frost

Once temperatures drop, add 4–6 inches of mulch over perennial beds, garlic, and strawberries. It insulates roots through deep freezes and retains spring moisture.

Seasonal Rhythm

March – April

Start seeds indoors: tomatoes, peppers, brassicas, herbs

May (after last frost)

Direct sow peas, spinach, carrots, beets; transplant cold-tolerant starts

June 1+

Transplant warm-season crops outdoors after soil reaches 60°F

July – August

Peak growing season; sow fall crops (kale, turnips, radishes) in late July

September

Harvest warm crops before first frost; cold-hardy greens continue

October

Last harvest window; plant garlic for next spring

What Grows Best Here

KaleSpinachPeasCarrotsBeetsRadishesBroccoliCabbagePotatoesGarlicChivesShort-season tomatoesCold-hardy strawberries

What to Avoid

Long-season crops (butternut squash, late peppers), frost-sensitive herbs like basil (without protection), tropical plants.

Zones 6–7 · CT, DE, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA, MO, NE, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, WV

Farmer's Almanac: 6a · 6b · 7a · 7b

🌿 Temperate Climate

Two full seasons. The sweet spot for most gardeners.

Temperate zones have a forgiving, generous growing season with distinct spring and fall windows. This is the most versatile climate for gardening — nearly everything grows here. The main challenge is planning both seasons well.

Growing Season

150–180 days

Last Frost

Mid-March to mid-April

First Fall Frost

Mid-October to mid-November

Key Tips for Temperate Climate

Plant twice: spring and fall

You have two distinct growing windows. Direct sow cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, peas) 4–6 weeks before your last frost in spring, then again in late July for fall harvest.

Succession plant for continuous harvest

Sow lettuce, radishes, and beans every 2–3 weeks instead of all at once. This prevents a glut followed by nothing — you'll harvest continuously for months.

Watch for late spring frosts

Frost can sneak in through mid-April in zone 6. Keep a frost cloth handy and check the 10-day forecast before transplanting warm-season crops outside.

Manage humidity and airflow

Humid summers invite powdery mildew, blight, and fungal issues. Space plants generously, prune lower leaves, and water at the base — never overhead — to keep foliage dry.

Plant garlic in fall

October is the perfect time to plant garlic in temperate zones. It overwinters in the ground and gives you an early July harvest — one of the easiest and most rewarding crops.

Seasonal Rhythm

February – March

Start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant indoors; direct sow cool crops outdoors when soil is workable

April – May

Transplant brassicas; direct sow beans, carrots, beets after last frost

May – June

Transplant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers after frost-free; plant squash and corn

July – August

Peak summer harvest; sow fall brassicas, greens, and carrots in late July

September – October

Fall harvest window; lettuce, spinach, kale thrive in cooling temps

October

Plant garlic; add compost and cover crop bare beds before winter

What Grows Best Here

TomatoesPeppersCucumbersSquashBeansPeasLettuceKaleBroccoliGarlicStrawberriesBlueberriesMost herbs

What to Avoid

Tropical crops (banana, papaya) won't survive winter. Very long-season crops may not fully mature if planted late.

Zones 8–9 · AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, LA, MS, NV, OK, OR, SC, TX, WA

Farmer's Almanac: 8a · 8b · 9a · 9b

☀️ Mild & Warm

Two harvests, one challenge: surviving summer.

Warm zones offer an incredibly long season, but summer heat is your biggest obstacle — not cold. The most productive approach is to think in two seasons: a spring push before the heat arrives, and a fall/winter garden when temperatures drop back into the sweet spot.

Growing Season

200–240 days

Last Frost

Mid-February to mid-March

First Fall Frost

November – December

Key Tips for Mild & Warm

Plant tomatoes early — February or March

Get tomatoes in the ground early so they can fruit and finish before summer heat tops 90°F. Heat causes blossom drop and stops fruit set. An early start means a full harvest by June.

Use shade cloth in summer

A 30–50% shade cloth over vulnerable crops in July–August can drop soil temps by 10°F and prevent leaf scorch. This is the single most useful tool for warm-zone gardeners.

Fall is your best season

September through February is often the most productive time of year. Soil is warm (seeds germinate fast), pests decline, and cool temps are ideal for brassicas, greens, root vegetables, and herbs.

Water deeply, not frequently

Train roots to go deep by watering thoroughly 1–2 times per week rather than a little every day. Deep roots are more drought-tolerant. Mulch 3–4 inches thick to hold moisture.

Plant garlic in November

Unlike northern zones, garlic is planted in fall here and harvested in late spring. It's one of the easiest and most productive crops in warm climates.

Seasonal Rhythm

February – March

Plant tomatoes, peppers, squash; last chance for cool-season crops

April – June

Peak warm-season harvest; plant sweet potatoes and okra in May

July – August

Heat pause — shade cloth, drought-tolerant plants, minimal activity

September – October

Best planting window: brassicas, greens, carrots, beets, herbs

November – December

Plant garlic and onions; cool-season crops fully established

January – February

Winter harvest of greens, root veg; start tomatoes and peppers indoors

What Grows Best Here

Tomatoes (early season)PeppersOkraSweet potatoesEggplantFigsBlueberriesGarlicBrassicas (fall)CitrusHerbs year-roundSweet corn

What to Avoid

Don't plant cool-season crops in late spring — they'll bolt immediately. Avoid planting heat-sensitive crops (lettuce, spinach) from May to August.

Zones 10–11 · S. FL, HI, S. CA, S. AZ, PR

Farmer's Almanac: 10a · 10b · 11a · 11b

🌴 Hot & Frost-Free

No frost, no rules — but summer heat demands respect.

Frost-free zones sound like paradise, but tropical heat and year-round pest pressure require a different kind of strategy. The secret is knowing which crops belong in which season — counterintuitively, your coolest months (October–March) are the best time for most vegetables.

Growing Season

Year-round (no frost)

Last Frost

None

First Fall Frost

None

Key Tips for Hot & Frost-Free

Grow cool-season vegetables Oct–March

Tomatoes, peppers, and most vegetables grow best in your 'winter.' The cooler temperatures reduce stress, pests, and disease. Don't fight the summer — plant tropicals then instead.

Lean into tropical edibles year-round

Bananas, papayas, lemongrass, moringa, sweet potatoes, and tropical herbs (basil, turmeric, ginger) are made for your climate. These give you productive growing even in the hottest months.

Manage pests proactively

Warm year-round conditions mean pest populations never crash in winter. Inspect plants weekly, remove eggs and larvae early, and rotate crops seasonally to disrupt pest cycles.

Afternoon shade is critical in desert zones

In Phoenix, Palm Springs, or similar areas, plants need protection from the intense afternoon sun (2–6pm). Growing on the east side of a wall, fence, or tree can make all the difference.

Water consistently — brief drought causes real damage

Plants under heat stress have no buffer. Missing a watering in peak summer can cause irreversible damage within hours. Drip irrigation on a timer is the most reliable solution.

Seasonal Rhythm

October – November

Plant tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, herbs — your main growing season begins

December – January

Brassicas, lettuce, carrots, beets thrive in cool temperatures; plant citrus

February – March

Peak cool-season harvest; start tropical edibles for summer

April – May

Transition to heat-tolerant crops: okra, sweet potatoes, tropical herbs

June – September

Focus on tropicals: banana, papaya, lemongrass, moringa; minimal veggie gardening

October

Cycle restarts — soil prep, compost, and replant for cool season

What Grows Best Here

Tomatoes (Oct–March)PeppersOkraSweet potatoesBananaPapayaCitrusAvocadoLemongrassBasilTurmeric & gingerMoringaChiles

What to Avoid

Don't plant cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, broccoli) in summer — they'll immediately bolt or die from heat stress. Avoid frost-sensitive tropicals in marginal zone 10 areas that occasionally dip below 30°F.

Ready to plan your cold winters garden?

Get a personalized plant selection and planting calendar for your zone.

Zone-by-ZoneGrowing Guides

❄️ Cold Winters

🌿 Temperate Climate

☀️ Mild & Warm

🌴 Hot & Frost-Free

Zone-by-Zone
Growing Guides