One of the most common questions new gardeners ask is also the most important: "What do I plant right now?" Get the timing right and your garden practically runs itself. Get it wrong — planting tomatoes before the last frost or sowing lettuce in the heat of summer — and even the healthiest seedlings struggle.
This guide walks you through what to plant and harvest each month so you always know your next move. It's built around a temperate climate (roughly USDA zones 5–8), with one simple trick at the end to adjust it to wherever you garden.
The one rule that makes timing easy
Before the month-by-month list, understand the single idea that drives all of it: your frost dates.
Every area has an average last spring frost (when it's safe to plant tender crops) and a first fall frost (when the growing season ends). A quick search of your zip code or postcode gives you both. Once you know them, planting timing falls into place — most seed packets simply say "plant X weeks before/after last frost."
Crops split into two camps:
- Cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, peas, kale, carrots, broccoli) tolerate frost and grow best in spring and fall.
- Warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers) need warmth and only go out after your last frost.
Month-by-month at a glance
January–February — Plan & start indoors. The garden rests, but you don't have to. Order seeds, plan your beds, and start slow growers like onions, leeks, and early brassicas indoors under a light.
March — Start the main crop indoors. Sow tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant inside. Outdoors, you can direct-sow peas, spinach, and radishes under cover in milder spots.
April — Direct sow cool crops. Carrots, beets, lettuce, peas, and radishes go straight into the ground. Start cucumbers and squash indoors, and begin "hardening off" your seedlings (gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions).
May — Plant out, after the frost. Once your last frost passes, transplant tomatoes and peppers and direct-sow beans, corn, squash, and cucumbers. This is the big planting month.
June — Succession sow. Keep planting small batches of beans, lettuce, and carrots every couple of weeks for a continuous harvest. Begin enjoying peas, strawberries, and early greens.
July — Harvest & plan for fall. Zucchini, cucumbers, and beans pour in. Sow fall crops now — broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and beets — for an autumn harvest.
August — Peak harvest + fall greens. Tomatoes and peppers hit their stride. Sow spinach, lettuce, radish, and kale for cool-weather eating.
September — Preserve & plant garlic. Harvest is abundant; dry, freeze, and can the surplus. Plant garlic late in the month for next summer.
October — Wind down. Bring in pumpkins and root crops, finish planting garlic, and mulch beds. Frost arrives around now in most temperate areas.
November–December — Rest & reflect. Harvest frost-sweetened kale and Brussels sprouts, mulch beds for winter, and review what worked. Then start dreaming about next year's garden.
Make it yours: adjust for your climate
This calendar assumes a mid-April last frost and mid-October first frost. To personalize it:
- Warmer climate (longer season)? Shift everything earlier — you may plant warm crops in April and squeeze in extra successions.
- Colder climate (shorter season)? Shift everything later and lean on cold-hardy crops and season extenders like row covers.
That single adjustment turns a generic calendar into your planting schedule.
Get the printable version
Want this on your fridge or garden shed wall? We turned this whole guide into a free, printable Seasonal Planting Calendar — month-by-month planting and harvesting, plus a companion-planting cheat sheet. Grab it free and never wonder "what do I plant now?" again.
Once you've got your timing down, the next step is choosing forgiving crops — see our guide to the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners, and if you're short on space, the best vegetables to grow in containers.
Frequently asked questions
What vegetables can I plant right now?
It depends on your season. In early spring, plant cool-season crops like lettuce, peas, spinach, and radishes. After your last frost, switch to warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and beans. In late summer, sow fall greens.
How do I know my last frost date?
Search your zip code or postcode along with "average last frost date." It's the date after which freezing nights are unlikely — your green light for planting tender crops.
Can I grow vegetables year-round?
In mild climates, yes — by rotating cool- and warm-season crops. In colder areas, season extenders like cold frames and row covers let you stretch the season at both ends.
What's the difference between cool-season and warm-season crops?
Cool-season crops tolerate frost and prefer spring/fall (lettuce, kale, peas). Warm-season crops need heat and are killed by frost, so they only grow in summer (tomatoes, peppers, squash).
The bottom line
Successful gardening is mostly good timing. Learn your frost dates, follow the seasonal rhythm above, and adjust it to your climate — and you'll always know exactly what to plant next.