Are you starting a garden in the United States, but unsure how to begin? –
Understanding your grow zone and frost dates in your region is key.
As part of our effort to help you get started, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide with 60 U.S. cities and their associated grow zones – with estimated first and last frost dates included as a bonus!
No matter your gardening experience level or knowledge base, this guide can help you make informed decisions about when and what plants to plant in your region.
The best time to plant vegetables outside varies depending on the type of plant and the climate in your region. In general, cool-season crops like peas, lettuce, and spinach can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, while warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers should be planted after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. A good rule of thumb is to wait until the average soil temperature is at least 60°F before planting warm-season crops.
When Should You Plant Vegetables Outside?
Grow zones are determined by the average minimum winter temperatures in a specific geographic area.
Knowing your grow zone can help you select plants that are well-suited to the climate in your region, and also determine when to plant them outdoors.
For example, if you live in a colder region with a shorter growing season, you may need to start your seeds indoors earlier in the year or choose plants that are more tolerant of colder temperatures.
On the other hand, if you live in a warmer region with a longer growing season, you may be able to plant certain crops earlier or later in the year to extend your harvest.
By using grow zones to inform your planting decisions, you can increase your chances of a successful and bountiful garden.
Should I Start Seeds Indoors?
Starting seeds indoors can be a great way to get a head start on the growing season and extend your harvest.
However, not all plants require indoor seeding, and it can be more challenging than simply planting seeds directly in the ground.
Factors to consider include the type of plant, the length of your growing season, and the conditions in your area.
Some plants that benefit from indoor seeding include tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, which need a longer growing season than some regions provide.
Other plants, like beans and squash, can be directly seeded in the ground with success.
If you do decide to start seeds indoors, it’s important to provide the right environment for germination, including proper lighting, temperature, and humidity.
Grow Zones by Cities
| City | USDA Zone | Average First Frost | Average Last Frost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Albuquerque, NM |
Oct 29 |
Apr 12 |
|
|
Anchorage, AK |
4b/5a |
Sep 24 |
May 4 |
|
Asheville, NC |
7a |
Oct 26 |
Apr 13 |
|
Atlanta, GA |
Nov 13 |
Mar 23 |
|
|
Austin, TX |
8b |
Nov 22 |
Feb 12 |
|
Baltimore, MD |
7a |
Oct 27 |
Apr 5 |
|
Birmingham, AL |
8a |
Nov 6 |
Mar 28 |
|
Boston, MA |
6b |
Oct 28 |
Apr 17 |
|
Buffalo, NY |
6a |
Oct 6 |
May 8 |
|
Charleston, SC |
8b |
Dec 2 |
Feb 7 |
|
Chicago, IL |
6a |
Oct 15 |
Apr 25 |
|
Cincinnati, OH |
6b |
Oct 23 |
Apr 13 |
|
Cleveland, OH |
6b |
Oct 19 |
Apr 25 |
|
Dallas, TX |
8a |
Nov 22 |
Mar 6 |
|
Denver, CO |
6B |
Oct 7 |
May 4 |
|
Des Moines, IA |
5b |
Oct 10 |
Apr 26 |
|
Detroit, MI |
6a |
Oct 20 |
Apr 24 |
|
El Paso, TX |
8b |
Content |
Content |
|
Fargo, ND |
4a |
Sep 30 |
May 13 |
|
Fresno, CA |
9b |
Nov 28 |
Feb 1 |
|
Grand Rapids, MI |
6a |
Oct 14 |
Apr 28 |
|
Hartford, CT |
6b |
Oct 15 |
Apr 28 |
|
Honolulu, HI |
11 |
no frost |
no frost |
|
Houston, TX |
9a |
Dec 11 |
Feb 1 |
|
Indianapolis, IN |
6a |
Oct 22 |
Apr 14 |
|
Jacksonville, FL |
9a |
Dec 28 |
Jan 31 |
|
Kansas City, MO |
6b |
Oct 26 |
Apr 11 |
|
Las Vegas, NV |
9a |
Nov 15 |
Mar 4 |
|
Lexington, KY |
6b |
Oct 22 |
Apr 12 |
|
Little Rock, AR |
8a |
Nov 13 |
Mar 24 |
|
Louisville, KY |
6b |
Oct 23 |
Apr 15 |
|
Memphis, TN |
8a |
Nov 4 |
Mar 26 |
|
Miami, FL |
10a |
no frost |
no frost |
|
Milwaukee, WI |
5b |
Oct 13 |
Apr 30 |
|
Minneapolis, MN |
4b |
Oct 2 |
May 11 |
|
Nashville, TN |
Nov 1 |
Apr 8 |
|
|
New Orleans, LA |
9a |
Dec 7 |
Jan 26 |
|
New York City, NY |
Nov 12 |
Apr 8 |
|
|
Oklahoma City, OK |
Nov 1 |
Apr 5 |
|
|
Omaha, NE |
5b |
Oct 13 |
Apr 25 |
|
Orlando, FL |
9b |
Dec 26 |
Feb 3 |
|
Philadelphia, PA |
7b |
Oct 31 |
Apr 11 |
|
Phoenix, AZ |
9b |
Nov 28 |
Feb 3 |
|
Pittsburgh, PA |
6a |
Oct 12 |
Apr 28 |
|
Portland, OR |
8b |
Nov 19 |
Mar 3 |
|
Providence, RI |
7a |
Oct 27 |
Apr 16 |
|
Raleigh, NC |
Nov 1 |
Apr 6 |
|
|
Richmond, VA |
7a |
Oct 28 |
Apr 11 |
|
Sacramento, CA |
9b |
Nov 20 |
Feb 2 |
|
Salt Lake City, UT |
7a |
Oct 23 |
Apr 28 |
|
San Antonio, TX |
9a |
Dec 5 |
Feb 7 |
|
San Diego, CA |
10a |
no frost |
no frost |
|
San Francisco, CA |
10a |
no frost |
no frost |
|
San Jose, CA |
9b |
Dec 2 |
Feb 10 |
|
Seattle, WA |
8b |
Nov 15 |
Feb 22 |
|
St. Louis, MO |
6b |
Oct 25 |
Apr 10 |
|
Tampa, FL |
9b |
Dec 17 |
Feb 4 |
|
Washington, DC |
7a |
Oct 31 |
Apr 8 |
Final Thoughts
Knowing when to plant vegetables or seeds outdoors in a common question for gardeners.
Understanding your grow zones can take a lot of the guesswork out of it. Warmer season vegetables will often need to be started indoors for cooler weather zones to extend the growing season.
Cooler weather vegetables or vegetables with shorter growing seasons can be directly sown outdoors.
Following a planting calendar can make it a lot easier to know when certain plants can be started.
Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions and as always, Happy Growing!
