Planting Calendar by Hardiness Zone
A planting calendar turns your frost dates into action. Everything keys off your typical last spring frost and first fall frost; warm-season crops go in after the soil warms, cool-season crops go in early or in fall.
Why frost dates rule
Your last spring frost sets the safe transplant date for tender crops like tomato and pepper. Your first fall frost sets the deadline for warm crops to finish. The gap is your frost-free season — often 90–180 days depending on zone.
Cool vs warm crops
Cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, peas, broccoli) tolerate light frost and are sown 2–4 weeks before the last frost or in fall. Warm-season crops (tomato, pepper, cucumber, basil) are started indoors ~6 weeks before last frost and moved out 1–2 weeks after, once nights stay mild.
Use the tool
Pick your state and a crop above to get indoor start, sow/transplant, and first-harvest dates plus a printable month-by-month grid. Confirm with your county extension and the 10-day forecast before planting.
Planting Calendar (pre-filled by state)
Use the free tool below with your own numbers — results are printable.
In California (typical zone 5–11, last frost ≈ Feb 15, first frost ≈ Dec 1, 289-day season), your Tomato plan:
Month-by-month (California, 2026)
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan | Start indoors |
| Feb | — |
| Mar | Sow · Transplant |
| Apr | — |
| May | Harvest |
| Jun | — |
| Jul | — |
| Aug | — |
| Sep | — |
| Oct | — |
| Nov | — |
| Dec | — |
Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 3–13 suitable. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and watch the 10-day forecast.
GardenFig guidance is educational, based on USDA zones and extension guidelines. Confirm local freeze dates, product labels, and regulations with your county extension.