Find optimal planting and harvesting dates for your crops based on your location and frost dates.
Enter your average last spring frost date and first fall frost date (find these from your local agricultural extension or weather records), select your crop type, and enter days to maturity for your specific variety. Click "Calculate" to see recommended planting date, expected harvest date, length of your frost-free growing season, and whether the harvest falls safely before the first fall frost.
The crop planting calendar helps you determine optimal planting and harvesting dates based on your local frost dates and crop maturity requirements. Planting at the right time ensures crops mature before fall frost, maximizes growing season utilization, and avoids cold damage to warm-season crops. This tool is essential for gardeners and farmers in temperate climates where frost limits the growing season.
A: Frost dates are available from: your national meteorological service, local agricultural extension office, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (US), or online tools like Dave's Garden PlantFiles. Use the 30-year average (1991-2020) for planning. Note that microclimates (low spots, south-facing slopes, urban heat islands) can vary by 1-2 weeks from regional averages. Keep records of actual frost dates on your own farm for 3-5 years to refine your planting schedule.
A: Last spring frost (also called last frost date) is the average date of the last killing frost (typically -2°C or below) in spring. Plant warm-season crops AFTER this date. First fall frost is the average date of the first killing frost in autumn. Harvest warm-season crops BEFORE this date. The period between them is your frost-free growing season. For example, if last frost is April 15 and first frost is October 15, you have 183 frost-free days. Match crop maturity requirements to this window.
A: Warm-season crops with long maturity (tomatoes 80-100 days, peppers 90-120 days, eggplants 100-150 days) should be started indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting, especially in short-season areas. Direct-sown crops (beans, peas, carrots, lettuce, radishes) don't transplant well and should be sown directly. Use this calculator to determine if direct sowing will mature before fall frost; if not, start transplants indoors to gain 4-6 weeks. Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting to reduce transplant shock.