Zone 4a Planting Calendar

Every listed crop, timed for zone 4a. Not sure this is your zone?Look it up by ZIP code.

This zone has a distinct planting calendar — windows below are sourced from www.longfield-gardens.com rather than a single frost date.

Vegetables & Herbs

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. harvest
Garlic4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Dec 26–Jan 2 '27~240 days after direct-sowing
Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 27–Mar 6May 29–Jun 5~135 days after transplanting
Celery4 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 6–Mar 13May 1–May 8~120 days after transplanting
Leek9 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 6–Mar 13Apr 24–May 1~110 days after transplanting
Rosemary1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 6–Mar 13May 29–Jun 5~90 days after transplanting
Pepper1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27May 29–Jun 5~75 days after transplanting
Onion9 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27Apr 24–May 1~100 days after transplanting
Eggplant1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27May 29–Jun 5~75 days after transplanting
Sweet Potato~4 sq ft each—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27Jun 5–Jun 12~110 days after transplanting
Thyme4 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27May 22–May 29~90 days after transplanting
Oregano4 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27May 22–May 29~80 days after transplanting
Chives9 per sq ft—EitherMar 20–Mar 27May 1–May 8~60 days after planting
Parsley4 per sq ft—EitherMar 20–Mar 27May 1–May 8~75 days after planting
Sage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27May 29–Jun 5~75 days after transplanting
Collard Greens1 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3Apr 24–May 1~70 days after planting
Tomato1 per sq ft—Start indoorsApr 3–Apr 10May 29–Jun 5~70 days after transplanting
Kale1 per sq ft—EitherApr 3–Apr 10Apr 24–May 1~60 days after planting
Pea8 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 3–Apr 10~60 days after direct-sowing
Broccoli1 per sq ft—Start indoorsApr 3–Apr 10May 1–May 8~65 days after transplanting
Cabbage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsApr 3–Apr 10May 1–May 8~70 days after transplanting
Basil4 per sq ft—Start indoorsApr 3–Apr 10May 29–Jun 5~60 days after transplanting
Cauliflower1 per sq ft—Start indoorsApr 3–Apr 10May 1–May 8~70 days after transplanting
Brussels Sprouts1 per sq ft—Start indoorsApr 3–Apr 10May 1–May 8~95 days after transplanting
Arugula9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 10–Apr 17~40 days after direct-sowing
Bok Choy1 per sq ft—EitherApr 10–Apr 17May 15–May 22~50 days after planting
Kohlrabi4 per sq ft—EitherApr 10–Apr 17May 1–May 8~55 days after planting
Fennel (Florence/bulbing)1 per sq ft—EitherApr 10–Apr 17May 29–Jun 5~90 days after planting
Lettuce4 per sq ft—EitherApr 17–Apr 24May 1–May 8~45 days after planting
Spinach9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 17–Apr 24~40 days after direct-sowing
Swiss Chard4 per sq ft—EitherApr 17–Apr 24May 1–May 8~55 days after planting
Radish16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 17–Apr 24~25 days after direct-sowing
Okra1 per sq ft—EitherApr 17–Apr 24May 29–Jun 5~58 days after planting
Cucumber2 per sq ft—EitherApr 24–May 1May 22–May 29~55 days after planting
Zucchini1 per sq ft—EitherApr 24–May 1May 22–May 29~50 days after planting
Carrot16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 24–May 1~70 days after direct-sowing
Beet9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 24–May 1~55 days after direct-sowing
Cantaloupe~4 sq ft each—EitherApr 24–May 1May 29–Jun 5~80 days after planting
Turnip9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 24–May 1~50 days after direct-sowing
Mustard Greens4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 24–May 1~40 days after direct-sowing
Cilantro9 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 1–May 8~50 days after direct-sowing
Potato1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 1–May 8~90 days after direct-sowing
Scallion (Green Onion)9 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 1–May 8~60 days after direct-sowing
Dill4 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 8–May 15~55 days after direct-sowing
Winter Squash~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~100 days after direct-sowing
Pumpkin~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~110 days after direct-sowing
Bush Beans9 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~55 days after direct-sowing
Sweet Corn1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~75 days after direct-sowing
Watermelon~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 29–Jun 5~85 days after direct-sowing

Flowers

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. bloom
Tulip7 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Oct~180 days after direct-sowing
Daffodil (Narcissus)5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Crocus12 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Hyacinth5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Ornamental Allium5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~195 days after direct-sowing
Pansy / Viola2 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 20–Feb 27May 1–May 8~65 days after transplanting
Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 6–Mar 13May 29–Jun 5~80 days after transplanting
Petunia1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 13–Mar 20May 29–Jun 5~70 days after transplanting
Snapdragon2 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 13–Mar 20May 8–May 15~90 days after transplanting
Purple Coneflower~4 sq ft each—EitherMar 13–Mar 20May 29–Jun 5~365 days after planting
Salvia (Scarlet Sage)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 20–Mar 27May 29–Jun 5~80 days after transplanting
Calendula1 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3May 1–May 8~50 days after planting
Black-Eyed Susan1 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3Apr 24–May 1~70 days after planting
Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)3 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3May 1–May 8~75 days after planting
Sweet Alyssum3 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3May 15–May 22~40 days after planting
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3May 22–May 29~80 days after planting
Portulaca (Moss Rose)1 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3May 22–May 29~60 days after planting
Celosia2 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3May 22–May 29~80 days after planting
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 27–Apr 3May 22–May 29~90 days after transplanting
Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)2 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 27–Apr 3May 29–Jun 5~98 days after transplanting
Cleome (Spider Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherMar 27–Apr 3May 29–Jun 5~75 days after planting
Marigold4 per sq ft—EitherApr 3–Apr 10May 22–May 29~50 days after planting
Sweet Pea2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 3–Apr 10~85 days after direct-sowing
Cosmos1 per sq ft—EitherApr 10–Apr 17May 22–May 29~70 days after planting
Moonflower2 per sq ft—EitherApr 10–Apr 17May 15–May 22~90 days after planting
Zinnia1 per sq ft—EitherApr 17–Apr 24May 22–May 29~65 days after planting
Larkspur1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 17–Apr 24~95 days after direct-sowing
Hollyhock~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 1–May 8~180 days after direct-sowing
California Poppy2 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 1–May 8~80 days after direct-sowing
Lupine~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 1–May 8~80 days after direct-sowing
Gladiolus2 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 1–May 8~90 days after direct-sowing
Ranunculus5 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 8–May 15~105 days after direct-sowing
Sunflower~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 15–May 22~80 days after direct-sowing
Dutch Iris4 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 15–May 22~210 days after direct-sowing
Nasturtium1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~55 days after direct-sowing
Four O'Clock~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~70 days after direct-sowing
Verbena~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~80 days after direct-sowing
Desert Marigold1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 22–May 29~75 days after direct-sowing
Morning Glory~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 29–Jun 5~75 days after direct-sowing
Dahlia1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 29–Jun 5~90 days after direct-sowing
Lantana~4 sq ft each—Buy as a start—May 29–Jun 5~90 days after transplanting
Hyacinth Bean Vine1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Jun 5–Jun 12~90 days after direct-sowing