Planning path

Fall Planting Planner

Use the first expected frost date, catalog weeks-before-frost windows, and local extension timing before choosing a fall sowing date.

Current fall frost plan

4-wave fall frost runway

Work backward from Oct 15 first frost: long brassicas first, leafy blocks next, cool greens after summer heat, then one final quick gap sowing.

Brassica anchor Waltham 29 Broccoli · sow Jul 23 · harvest Oct 5 · 10d before frost · 12 weeks before first frost
Leafy block Georgia Southern Collards · sow Aug 6 · harvest Oct 10 · 5d before frost · 10 weeks before first frost
Greens reset Bloomsdale Spinach · sow Aug 20 · harvest Oct 1 · 14d before frost · 8 weeks before first frost
Fast gap French Breakfast Radish · sow Sep 3 · harvest Oct 1 · 14d before frost · 6 weeks before first frost

Fall windows: 63 crops
Quick fall crops: 28 crops
Direct sowing: 59 crops
Succession rows: 29 crops
Cover crop reset: 10 crops

Oct 15 first frost · Jul 23 first sow · 5d tightest harvest buffer

Frost-date workflow

Start with first frost: Use a local first-frost estimate as the anchor for fall sowing and transplant timing.
Work backward: Use each crop's weeks-before-frost window and days to maturity before assigning bed space.
Check local constraints: Confirm soil temperature, heat stress, and regional extension notes before treating a date as ready.

Fall-window seed candidates

Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts 16 weeks before first frost · 100 days
American Flag Leek 14 weeks before first frost · 120 days
Marketmore 76 Cucumber 12 weeks before first frost · 58 days
Golden Acre Cabbage 12 weeks before first frost · 64 days
Snowball Y Cauliflower 12 weeks before first frost · 70 days
Waltham 29 Broccoli 12 weeks before first frost · 74 days
American Purple Top Rutabaga 12 weeks before first frost · 90 days
Provider Bush Bean 10 weeks before first frost · 50 days
Early White Vienna Kohlrabi 10 weeks before first frost · 55 days
California Poppy 10 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Lacinato Kale 10 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Sugar Snap Pea 10 weeks before first frost · 62 days
Evergreen Bunching Onion 10 weeks before first frost · 65 days
Georgia Southern Collards 10 weeks before first frost · 65 days
Danvers 126 Carrot 10 weeks before first frost · 70 days
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley 10 weeks before first frost · 75 days
Spencer Mix Sweet Pea 10 weeks before first frost · 75 days
Common Chives 10 weeks before first frost · 80 days
Florence Fennel 10 weeks before first frost · 80 days
Green Curled Endive 10 weeks before first frost · 85 days
Black-Eyed Susan 10 weeks before first frost · 90 days
Tall Maximum Snapdragon 10 weeks before first frost · 100 days
Giant Imperial Larkspur 10 weeks before first frost · 110 days
Blanketflower 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Canada Goldenrod 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Clustered Mountain Mint 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Common Milkweed 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Dense Blazing Star 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Eastern Bee Balm 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Foxglove Beardtongue 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Joe Pye Weed 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Lanceleaf Coreopsis 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Little Bluestem 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
New England Aster 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Purple Coneflower 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Swamp Milkweed 10 weeks before first frost · 365 days
Bright Lights Swiss Chard 9 weeks before first frost · 55 days
Detroit Dark Red Beet 9 weeks before first frost · 58 days
Buckwheat Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 35 days
Bloomsdale Spinach 8 weeks before first frost · 42 days
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce 8 weeks before first frost · 45 days
Southern Giant Curled Mustard 8 weeks before first frost · 45 days
White Stem Bok Choy 8 weeks before first frost · 45 days
Yellow Mustard Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 45 days
Sweet Alyssum 8 weeks before first frost · 50 days
Vit Mache Corn Salad 8 weeks before first frost · 50 days
Bouquet Dill 8 weeks before first frost · 55 days
Jewel Mix Nasturtium 8 weeks before first frost · 55 days
Purple Top White Globe Turnip 8 weeks before first frost · 55 days
Annual Ryegrass Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Berseem Clover Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Field Pea Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Minowase Daikon Radish 8 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Pacific Beauty Calendula 8 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Spring Oats Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 60 days
Blue Boy Bachelor's Button 8 weeks before first frost · 65 days
Crimson Clover Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 90 days
Hairy Vetch Cover Crop 8 weeks before first frost · 180 days
Santo Cilantro 7 weeks before first frost · 50 days
Oilseed Radish Cover Crop 7 weeks before first frost · 60 days
French Breakfast Radish 6 weeks before first frost · 28 days
Astro Arugula 6 weeks before first frost · 35 days
Winter Rye Cover Crop 6 weeks before first frost · 180 days

Fall-focused regional checks

Oklahoma Fall Vegetable Garden OSU checks fall planting periods, crop maturity, watering, and cold-frame extension before first freeze
Texas Fall Vegetable Garden Texas A&M checks five-region fall dates, frost-tolerant crop groups, and late-summer transplant establishment
Washington County Utah Fall Vegetable Calendar USU checks August direct-seed rows, September transplant rows, elevation shifts, and frost caveats
Arkansas Fall Vegetable Planting Dates UAEX checks fall crop maturity rows, July-September planting periods, and four-week transplant seed starts

Regional timing fallback

Alabama Seasons 25 catalog crop examples
Alameda East Bay 28 catalog crop examples
Alaska Short Season 12 catalog crop examples
Arizona Elevation Bands 30 catalog crop examples
Arkansas Fall 17 catalog crop examples
Arkansas Zone C 26 catalog crop examples
Butte Foothills 22 catalog crop examples
California Interior Valley 25 catalog crop examples
Central Florida 10 catalog crop examples
Central Maryland 25 catalog crop examples
Central Missouri 11 catalog crop examples
Central NH 31 catalog crop examples
Central Oregon Seeds 15 catalog crop examples
Chicago Area IL 20 catalog crop examples
Colorado Front Range 8 catalog crop examples
Colorado Containers 19 catalog crop examples
Colorado Mountains 25 catalog crop examples
Connecticut Calendar 30 catalog crop examples
Contra Costa Interior 18 catalog crop examples
Delaware Frost 25 catalog crop examples
East Texas 28 catalog crop examples
Eastern NC 32 catalog crop examples
Eastern Oregon Seeds 20 catalog crop examples
Georgia 17 catalog crop examples
Georgia Varieties 11 catalog crop examples
Harris County 34 catalog crop examples
Hawaii Elevations 13 catalog crop examples
Idaho Zones 27 catalog crop examples
Illinois 21 catalog crop examples
Indiana Frost/Soil 32 catalog crop examples
Iowa Timing 10 catalog crop examples
Kansas Calendar 36 catalog crop examples
Kauai County 19 catalog crop examples
Kentucky Regions 29 catalog crop examples
Long Island 18 catalog crop examples
Louisiana North/South 12 catalog crop examples
Michigan LP 20 catalog crop examples
Maine Coast/North 17 catalog crop examples
Maricopa County 36 catalog crop examples
Marin Monthly 28 catalog crop examples
Massachusetts 35 catalog crop examples
McHenry County IL 28 catalog crop examples
Middle Georgia 20 catalog crop examples
Minnesota Soil Temp 33 catalog crop examples
Mississippi Zones 27 catalog crop examples
Missouri Varieties 14 catalog crop examples
Montana Frost Windows 27 catalog crop examples
Napa County 20 catalog crop examples
Nebraska Frost/Soil 25 catalog crop examples
New Jersey Frost 21 catalog crop examples
New Mexico Zones 17 catalog crop examples
NYC Area 35 catalog crop examples
NC Piedmont 17 catalog crop examples
North Dakota Small Space 16 catalog crop examples
North Florida 26 catalog crop examples
North Missouri/Ozark 12 catalog crop examples
Northern Nevada 20 catalog crop examples
Northern Wisconsin 32 catalog crop examples
Central Ohio 32 catalog crop examples
Oklahoma Fall 18 catalog crop examples
Oklahoma Planning 22 catalog crop examples
Orange County Small Space 27 catalog crop examples
Oregon Coast 27 catalog crop examples
Oregon Regions 8 catalog crop examples
Philadelphia Area 34 catalog crop examples
Pima County 41 catalog crop examples
Placer County 26 catalog crop examples
Rhode Island Calendar 31 catalog crop examples
Rockwall County 28 catalog crop examples
Sacramento Area 32 catalog crop examples
San Diego County 25 catalog crop examples
SLO Cool Season 24 catalog crop examples
SF/San Mateo 29 catalog crop examples
Santa Clara County 42 catalog crop examples
Shasta County Valley 31 catalog crop examples
Sonoma Planting 39 catalog crop examples
South Carolina 29 catalog crop examples
South Dakota Frost/Soil 22 catalog crop examples
South Florida 22 catalog crop examples
South Missouri 14 catalog crop examples
SE Wisconsin 31 catalog crop examples
Southern Nevada Desert 28 catalog crop examples
Tennessee Cool Season 6 catalog crop examples
Tennessee Warm Season 6 catalog crop examples
Texas Fall 21 catalog crop examples
Texas Home Garden 27 catalog crop examples
Travis County 30 catalog crop examples
Tulare/Kings Valley 29 catalog crop examples
Upper Midwest 8 catalog crop examples
Michigan UP 20 catalog crop examples
Upstate New York 26 catalog crop examples
Utah Frost Groups 29 catalog crop examples
Utah Varieties 6 catalog crop examples
Ventura County 36 catalog crop examples
Vermont Frost 22 catalog crop examples
Virginia Zones 27 catalog crop examples
Walla Walla Inland NW 21 catalog crop examples
Wasatch Front 31 catalog crop examples
Washington County Fall 15 catalog crop examples
Washington County UT 14 catalog crop examples
Western Washington 23 catalog crop examples
West Virginia 33 catalog crop examples
Western NC 40 catalog crop examples
Willamette Calendar 40 catalog crop examples
Wisconsin Containers 13 catalog crop examples
Wyoming Statewide 9 catalog crop examples
Midwest Native Pollinators 7 catalog crop examples
Yolo County Spring 9 catalog crop examples
York County PA 8 catalog crop examples
York County Seeds 21 catalog crop examples
Yuma County 38 catalog crop examples

Supporting planning paths

Fall-Planting Seeds 63 catalog entries with first-frost windows
Planting Calendar Tool Convert frost offsets into dates
USDA Zone and Frost-Date Planner Keep hardiness zone separate from annual crop timing
Frost Protection and Season Extension Planner Plan row cover, cold-frame, and early-freeze protection before fall crops run out of season
Cool Season Seeds Cold-tolerant spring and fall candidates

Source basis

Alabama Extension Vegetable Seasons in Alabama Alabama Seasons regional timing source
CCE Suffolk Vegetable Planting Times Guidelines for Long Island Long Island regional timing source
Clemson Extension planning a garden South Carolina regional timing source
Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY Planting Guide for the New York City Area NYC Area regional timing source
Cornell Vegetables planting dates for Upstate New York Upstate New York regional timing source
CSU Extension vegetable gardening in containers Colorado Containers regional timing source
CSU Extension vegetable gardening in the mountains Colorado Mountains regional timing source
CSU vegetable planting guide 14 entries cite this source
Henderson County Master Gardeners East Texas Vegetable Planting Guide East Texas regional timing source
Illinois Extension McHenry County vegetable garden planting guide McHenry County IL regional timing source
Illinois Extension when to plant Illinois, Chicago Area IL regional timing source
Iowa State University Extension Planting and Harvesting Times for Garden Vegetables Iowa Timing regional timing source
K-State Research and Extension Vegetable Garden Planting Guide Kansas Calendar regional timing source
LSU AgCenter Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide Louisiana North/South regional timing source
MSU Extension Can I Grow That Here? Montana Frost Windows regional timing source
MSU Extension Lower Peninsula Michigan Garden Calendar Michigan LP regional timing source
MSU Extension Planting Dates Mississippi Zones regional timing source
MSU Extension Upper Peninsula Michigan Gardening Calendar Michigan UP regional timing source
MU Extension vegetable planting calendar Central Missouri, North Missouri/Ozark, South Missouri, Missouri Varieties regional timing source
NC State Extension Eastern North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs Eastern NC regional timing source
NC State Extension estimated planting dates for the NC Piedmont NC Piedmont regional timing source
NC State Extension Western North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs Western NC regional timing source
NDSU Extension Pickin' Patch small-space vegetable gardening North Dakota Small Space regional timing source
Nebraska Extension Selecting and Preparing Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit Nebraska Frost/Soil regional timing source
NMSU growing zones and planting information for New Mexico home vegetable gardens New Mexico Zones regional timing source
Oklahoma State University Extension Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide Oklahoma Planning regional timing source
OSU Extension An educator's guide to vegetable gardening Willamette Calendar regional timing source
OSU Extension Eastern Oregon seed-starting schedule Eastern Oregon Seeds regional timing source
OSU Extension fall gardening Oklahoma Fall regional timing source
OSU Extension Planning for the Garden Central Ohio regional timing source
OSU Extension The best vegetables to grow in Oregon's coastal climate Oregon Coast regional timing source
OSU Extension vegetable gardening in Oregon Oregon Regions regional timing source
OSU Extension When to start seeds indoors in central Oregon Central Oregon Seeds regional timing source
Penn State cole crops for home vegetable gardens 5 entries cite this source
Penn State Master Gardeners Philadelphia Planting Guide Philadelphia Area regional timing source
Penn State plant factsheets 4 entries cite this source
Penn State planting for pollinators 2 entries cite this source
Penn State pollinator recommendations 1 entry cites this source
Penn State York County vegetable seed planting guide York County Seeds regional timing source
Penn State York County vegetable transplanting guide York County PA regional timing source
Purdue Extension Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar Indiana Frost/Soil regional timing source
Rockwall County Master Gardeners Vegetable Planting Guide Rockwall County regional timing source
Rutgers NJAES Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors New Jersey Frost regional timing source
SDSU Extension Vegetable Gardening in South Dakota South Dakota Frost/Soil regional timing source
Seed Savers seed saving guide 8 entries cite this source
Ten Steps to a Successful Vegetable Garden Arizona Elevation Bands regional timing source
Texas A&M AgriLife fall vegetable gardening guide Texas Fall regional timing source
Texas A&M AgriLife Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide Texas Home Garden regional timing source
Texas A&M AgriLife Travis County Vegetable Garden Planting Guide Travis County regional timing source
Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service Harris County Vegetable Garden Planting Dates Harris County regional timing source
UA Cooperative Extension Pima County Vegetable Planting and Harvesting Guide Pima County regional timing source
UA Cooperative Extension Yuma County Planting and Harvesting Calendar Yuma County regional timing source
UA Extension vegetable planting calendar for Maricopa County Maricopa County regional timing source
UAEX Arkansas fall vegetable planting dates Arkansas Fall regional timing source
UAEX Arkansas spring and summer vegetable planting dates Arkansas Zone C regional timing source
UAF Cooperative Extension 16 Easy Steps to Gardening in Alaska Alaska Short Season regional timing source
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources San Diego County Vegetable Planting Guide San Diego County regional timing source
UC ANR Cooperative Extension Ventura County Planting Vegetables Ventura County regional timing source
UC ANR Shasta County Monthly Planting Guide Shasta County Valley regional timing source
UC ANR The Savvy Sage April Vegetable Planting Guide Yolo County Spring regional timing source
UC Marin Master Gardeners Edible Garden Monthly Planting & Maintenance Schedule Marin Monthly regional timing source
UC Master Gardener Contra Costa interior vegetable planting guide Contra Costa Interior regional timing source
UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County Growing Vegetables Alameda East Bay regional timing source
UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County Vegetable Planting Summary Sonoma Planting regional timing source
UC Master Gardener Program Time of planting California Interior Valley regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County Foothill Planting Guide Butte Foothills regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of Napa County Vegetable Planting Calendar Napa County regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of Orange County Small Spaces Orange County Small Space regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Growing Vegetables in Placer County Placer County regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County Vegetable Planting Schedule Sacramento Area regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County Cool Season Vegetable Guide SLO Cool Season regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County Vegetable Planting Chart Santa Clara County regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners of Tulare and Kings County Vegetable Planting Guide Tulare/Kings Valley regional timing source
UC Master Gardeners San Mateo and San Francisco Edible Gardening and Planting Calendars SF/San Mateo regional timing source
UConn Connecticut Vegetable Crop Calendar Connecticut Calendar regional timing source
UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide Central Florida, South Florida, North Florida regional timing source
UGA Extension Best Garden Vegetable Varieties for Georgia Georgia Varieties regional timing source
UGA Extension Vegetable Garden Calendar Middle Georgia regional timing source
UGA Extension vegetable planting chart Georgia regional timing source
UH Bulletin 91 Home Gardening in Hawaii Hawaii Elevations regional timing source
UH CTAHR Planting, Harvest Periods and Spacing of Vegetables Kauai County regional timing source
UMaine Extension planting chart for the home vegetable garden Maine Coast/North regional timing source
UMass Extension Vegetable Planting Chart Massachusetts regional timing source
UMD Extension Vegetable Planting Calendar Central Maryland regional timing source
UMN companion planting guide 1 entry cites this source
UMN planting the vegetable garden 8 entries cite this source
UMN starting seeds indoors 3 entries cite this source
UNH Extension growing vegetables when to plant your vegetable garden Central NH regional timing source
University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Planning a Vegetable Garden Delaware Frost regional timing source
University of Idaho Extension Spring Vegetable Planting Guide for Idaho Idaho Zones regional timing source
University of Kentucky Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky Kentucky Regions regional timing source
University of Wyoming Extension Growing Vegetables in Wyoming Wyoming Statewide regional timing source
UNR Extension Becoming a Desert Gardener Southern Nevada Desert regional timing source
UNR Extension getting started with a vegetable garden Northern Nevada regional timing source
URI Cooperative Extension Rhode Island Planting Calendar Rhode Island Calendar regional timing source
USU Extension Home Vegetable Garden: Variety Recommendations for Utah Utah Varieties regional timing source
USU Extension Washington County Fall Vegetable Garden Calendar Washington County Fall regional timing source
USU Extension Washington County Vegetable Gardening Washington County UT regional timing source
USU Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates For the Wasatch Front Wasatch Front regional timing source
USU suggested vegetable planting dates for Utah Utah Frost Groups regional timing source
UT Extension Guide to Spring-Planted Cool-Season Vegetables Tennessee Cool Season regional timing source
UT Extension Guide to Warm-Season Garden Vegetables Tennessee Warm Season regional timing source
UVM Extension Master Gardener Planting the Garden Vermont Frost regional timing source
UW Extension Planting guide for northern Wisconsin Northern Wisconsin regional timing source
UW Extension Waukesha County Vegetable Garden Planting Schedule SE Wisconsin regional timing source
UW-Madison Extension Vegetable Varieties for Containers Wisconsin Containers regional timing source
Virginia Cooperative Extension Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide Virginia Zones regional timing source
Wisconsin Extension cover crops and green manures 10 entries cite this source
WSU Extension Home Vegetable Gardening in Washington Western Washington regional timing source
WSU Walla Walla Inland Northwest Vegetable Gardening Walla Walla Inland NW regional timing source
WVU Extension Succession Planting West Virginia regional timing source
Xerces Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects: Midwest Midwest Native Pollinators regional timing source
Xerces pollinator-friendly native plant lists 7 entries cite this source