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.

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