Knowing your USDA hardiness zone is the foundation of good garden planning. Here is a quick guide to help you time your spring planting perfectly.
Zone 5-6 (Last Frost: April-May)
Start seeds indoors for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Direct sow cool-season crops like spinach, lettuce, peas, and radishes as soon as soil is workable in early April.
Zone 7-8 (Last Frost: March-April)
Warm-season crops like squash, beans, and cucumbers can go directly in the ground by mid-April. Start tomatoes indoors in late January or February for transplanting in early spring.
Zone 9-10 (Mild Winters)
Gardeners in these zones can grow cool-season crops through winter and transition to warm-season varieties as early as February-March. Watch out for summer heat stress on leafy greens.
Pro Tips
- Use a soil thermometer - most seeds germinate best at 60-75F (15-24C).
- Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors.
- Mulch beds to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.