Author: Jagdish Reddy | 10+ Years Sustainable Gardening Experience
Verification: Cross-referenced with USDA Climate Data & University Research
Status: Verified for current US regional growing conditions
Last Updated: April, 2026

If you’ve ever stood in your New York yard in March—trowel in hand, wondering, “Is it time yet?”—you know timing is everything. A reliable New York planting calendar by zone is essential, not just helpful, from the short-season hills of the Adirondacks (Zone 3a) to Long Island’s coastal warmth (Zone 7b).

If you’re not sure which zone you’re in, you can quickly look it up on the official USDA Hardiness Zone Map to make planting timing simple.

This New York planting calendar is compiled using USDA zone data, frost dates, and Cornell Cooperative Extension planting guidance: frost-delayed starts in Buffalo, overheated July lettuce in Albany, and garlic planted too late in Brooklyn. Planting timing in New York depends primarily on frost dates, soil temperature, and USDA zones and more on your last frost, soil temperature, and local microclimate.

Whether you’re looking for a monthly planting calendar for New York gardens, need to know what to plant in New York right now, or want a clear New York planting schedule for vegetables, this guide gives you zone-specific, month-by-month direction—backed by Cornell Cooperative Extension and real-season results.

You’ll find exactly when to sow peas, transplant tomatoes, or tuck in garlic—plus guidance for flowers, herbs, native plants, and containers. This calendar is structured using regional planting data and extension recommendations.

So whether you call it a New York planting guide or your seasonal roadmap, one thing’s certain: with the right timing, helping gardeners plan seasonal planting timing.

New York Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 3a

Zone 3a has the shortest growing season in New York, with late spring frosts and early fall freezes—so cool-season crops go out early, and warm-season crops must be started indoors or grown in protected spaces.

Month	Vegetables	Flowers	Herbs	Native Plants/Wildlife	Containers
Jan	Plan garden; order seeds	—	—	Review native plant catalogs	—
Feb	Start hardy greens indoors	—	Indoor chives	Maple seed stratification	Microgreens
Mar	Start onions and cabbage indoors	Pansy plugs (cold frame)	Parsley indoors	Serviceberry	Cold-tolerant kale pots
Apr	Peas, spinach, radish (outdoors)	Pansies	Cilantro (cold frame)	Red osier dogwood	Lettuce, scallions
May	Broccoli, carrots (after last frost ~May 20–31)	Dianthus	Dill	Bee balm	Snap peas, herbs
Jun	Beans, beets, summer squash	Marigolds	Basil (after frost)	Milkweed	Cherry tomatoes
Jul	Cucumbers, zucchini	Zinnias	Oregano	Joe-Pye weed	Bush beans
Aug	Start fall brassicas indoors	Cosmos	Lemon balm	Asters (late bloom)	—
Sep	Transplant kale, Brussels sprouts	Mums	Sage	Goldenrod	Cold-hardy greens
Oct	Garlic (late Oct, after soil <60°F)	—	Chives (mulch)	Native shrub planting	Overwintering parsley
Nov	Cover crops (rye, vetch)	—	Mulch herb beds	Leave seed heads for birds	Insulate containers
Dec	Seed inventory; indoor planning	—	Indoor thyme, rosemary	Wildlife brush piles	Dormant root storage

Garden Planner Tool

Plan your garden layout using this interactive planner. Enter your garden size to calculate plant spacing and planting timing based on this planting calendar.

This planner helps turn the planting calendar above into a practical garden layout based on your available space.

New York Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 4a

Zone 4a offers a slightly longer season—frost-free window The growing season typically lasts from May 10 to September 30, which allows for greater success with warm-season crops when careful timing and frost protection are used.

Month	Vegetables	Flowers	Herbs	Native Plants/Wildlife	Containers
Jan	Start slow-grow brassicas indoors	—	Indoor basil	Black-eyed Susan seed prep	Microgreens
Feb	Leeks and celery indoors	—	Parsley, chives	Red maple	Indoor lettuce
Mar	Onions and spinach direct sow (late Mar)	Pansies	Cilantro	Dogwood	Spinach pots
Apr	Peas, lettuce, potatoes	Dianthus	Dill	Serviceberry	Mixed spring greens
May	Tomatoes (after May 15), beans	Marigold	Mint	Butterfly weed	Early tomatoes
Jun	Corn, cucumbers, zucchini	Zinnias	Basil	Milkweed	Bush beans, herbs
Jul	Summer squash, beans	Sunflowers	Oregano	Coneflower	Cherry tomatoes
Aug	Fall carrots, broccoli transplants	Alyssum	Sage	Asters	—
Sep	Kale, beets, radish	Mums	Chives	Goldenrod	Cold-hardy greens
Oct	Garlic (mid-Oct)	Violas	Parsley (mulched)	Native shrub planting	Overwintered herbs
Nov	Cover crops; compost beds	—	Mulch perennial herbs	Wildlife habitat prep	Insulated containers
Dec	Seed ordering; indoor greens	—	Indoor rosemary	Dormant pruning	Microgreens

New York Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 5a

Zone 5a (e.g., Rochester, Syracuse) enjoys a reliable May–October growing window—ideal for both spring cool crops and summer staples like tomatoes, peppers, and squash.

Month	Vegetables	Flowers	Herbs	Native Plants/Wildlife	Containers
Jan	Start tomatoes and peppers indoors	—	Indoor basil	Plan pollinator patches	Indoor greens
Feb	Broccoli, cabbage transplants	—	Parsley	Redbud prep	Microgreens
Mar	Peas, spinach, onions	Pansies	Cilantro	Dogwood	Lettuce, radish
Apr	Potatoes, carrots, lettuce	Dianthus	Dill	Serviceberry	Mixed greens
May	Tomatoes, peppers, beans (after May 5–10)	Marigold	Mint	Butterfly weed	Tomatoes, basil
Jun	Corn, cucumbers, squash	Zinnias	Basil	Milkweed	Peppers, beans
Jul	Beans, okra, zucchini	Sunflowers	Oregano	Joe-Pye weed	Cherry tomatoes
Aug	Fall broccoli, carrots	Alyssum	Rosemary	Asters	Lettuce (shade cloth)
Sep	Kale, beets, radish	Mums	Sage	Blazing star	Spinach, cold crops
Oct	Garlic (early–mid Oct)	Violas	Chives	Native shrub planting	Overwintered herbs
Nov	Cover crops; compost	—	Mulch herb beds	Wildlife mulching	Container insulation
Dec	Seed planning; indoor herbs	—	Indoor thyme	Dormant native care	Microgreens

New York Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 6a

Zone 6a (e.g., Albany, northern NYC suburbs) warms earlier and supports extended harvests—great for succession planting and fall brassicas.

Month	Vegetables	Flowers	Herbs	Native Plants/Wildlife	Containers
Jan	Start tomatoes and peppers indoors	—	Indoor basil	Black-eyed Susan seed	Lettuce pots
Feb	Leeks, onions, cabbage	Pansies	Parsley	Redbud	Spinach
Mar	Peas, spinach, lettuce	Dianthus	Cilantro	Dogwood	Mixed greens
Apr	Potatoes, carrots, beets	Marigold	Dill	Serviceberry	Tomatoes (late Apr)
May	Tomatoes, peppers, beans	Zinnias	Mint	Butterfly weed	Peppers, beans
Jun	Corn, cucumbers, squash	Sunflowers	Basil	Milkweed	Cucumbers
Jul	Pumpkins, okra, beans	Cosmos	Lemon balm	Joe-Pye weed	Okra, eggplant
Aug	Fall carrots, broccoli	Alyssum	Rosemary	Asters	Lettuce
Sep	Kale, garlic, radish	Mums	Sage	Blazing star	Spinach
Oct	Garlic (early Oct)	Violas	Chives	Native shrubs	Winter greens
Nov	Cover crops; compost	—	Parsley (mulched)	Fruit tree prep	Indoor herbs
Dec	Indoor greens; seed review	—	Indoor herbs	Wildlife mulch beds	Microgreens

New York Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 6b

Zone 6b (e.g., mid-Hudson Valley) enjoys milder springs and longer falls than 6a—ideal for earlier tomatoes and extended cool-season harvests.

Month		Flowers	Herbs	Native Plants/Wildlife	Containers
Jan	Tomatoes and peppers indoors	—	Indoor thyme, parsley	Blueberries	Microgreens
Feb	Peas, onions, spinach	Pansies	Cilantro	Redbud	Radish
Mar	Lettuce, carrots, beets	Dianthus	Dill	Dogwood	Kale
Apr	Tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli	Marigold	Mint	Serviceberry	Beans
May	Peppers, corn, cucumbers	Zinnias	Oregano	Milkweed	Tomatoes
Jun	Beans, squash, melons	Sunflower	Basil	Butterfly bush	Cucumbers
Jul	Pumpkin, okra	Cosmos	Lemon balm	Joe-Pye weed	Eggplant
Aug	Broccoli, carrots, beets	Alyssum	Rosemary	Blazing star	Lettuce
Sep	Kale, radish, collards	Mums	Sage	Asters	Spinach
Oct	Garlic	Violas	Chives	Native shrubs	Winter greens
Nov	Onion sets	—	Parsley	Fruit trees	Indoor herbs
Dec	Start greens indoors	—	Indoor herbs	Mulch wildlife gardens	Microgreens

New York Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 7a

Zone 7a (e.g., NYC outer boroughs, Westchester) warms early and supports a long growing season for both cool- and warm-weather crops.

Month	Vegetables	Flowers	Herbs	Native Plants/Wildlife	Containers
Jan	Indoor tomatoes	—	Indoor basil	Blueberry	Indoor kale
Feb	Peas, carrots, spinach	Pansies	Cilantro	Red maple	Spinach
Mar	Cabbage, lettuce, beets, potatoes	Dianthus	Dill	Dogwood	Greens
Apr	Tomatoes, potatoes, beans	Marigold	Mint	Serviceberry	Beans
May	Peppers, corn, cucumbers	Zinnias	Oregano	Milkweed	Tomatoes, peppers
Jun	Squash, melons	Sunflower	Basil	Butterfly weed	Cucumbers
Jul	Okra, pumpkins	Cosmos	Lemon balm	Joe-Pye weed	Okra
Aug	Broccoli, carrots, beets	Alyssum	Rosemary	Blazing star	Lettuce
Sep	Kale, radish, collards	Mums	Sage	Asters	Spinach
Oct	Garlic	Violas	Chives	Oak saplings	Winter greens
Nov	Onion sets	—	Parsley	Native shrubs	Indoor herbs
Dec	Indoor brassicas	—	Indoor herbs	Mulch wildlife beds	Microgreens

New York Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 7b

Zone 7b (southern Long Island) benefits from mild winters and an early spring—ideal for double-cropping and extended harvests into November.

Month	Vegetables	Flowers	Herbs	Native Plants/Wildlife	Containers
Jan	Indoor peppers & tomatoes	—	Indoor basil & thyme	Blueberries	Indoor greens
Feb	Peas, onions, spinach	Pansies	Cilantro	Redbud	Radish
Mar	Lettuce, carrots, beets	Dianthus	Dill	Dogwood	Kale
Apr	Tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli	Marigold	Mint	Serviceberry	Beans
May	Peppers, corn, cucumbers	Zinnias	Oregano	Milkweed	Tomatoes
Jun	Beans, squash, melons	Sunflower	Basil	Butterfly bush	Cucumbers
Jul	Pumpkin, okra, sweet potatoes	Cosmos	Lemon balm	Joe-Pye weed	Eggplant
Aug	Broccoli, carrots, beets	Alyssum	Rosemary	Blazing star	Lettuce
Sep	Kale, radish, collards	Mums	Sage	Asters	Spinach
Oct	Garlic	Violas	Chives	Native shrubs	Winter greens
Nov	Onion sets	—	Parsley	Fruit trees	Indoor herbs
Dec	Start greens indoors	—	Indoor herbs	Mulch pollinator beds	Microgreens

Frost & Soil Temperature Chart for New York

Zone	Last Spring Frost	First Fall Frost	Ideal Temperatures for Warm-Season Vegetables	Ideal Temperatures for Cool-Season Vegetables
3a	Late May–Early June	Mid-Late August	65–70°F	45–60°F
4a	Mid–Late May	Early–Mid Sept	65–70°F	45–60°F
5a	Early–Mid May	Late Sept	60–70°F	45–60°F
6a	Late April–Early May	Early–Mid Oct	60–70°F	45–60°F
6b	Mid–Late April	Mid–Late Oct	60–70°F	45–60°F
7a	Early–Mid April	Late Oct	60–70°F	45–60°F
7b	Late March–Early April	Early Nov	60–70°F	45–60°F

What to Plant Each Month in New York—Quick Guide

Month	Plant These
January	Indoor tomatoes & peppers (Zones 6–7); microgreens; seed planning
February	Peas, spinach, onions, cabbage, carrots (Zones 5–7); indoor brassicas
March	Lettuce, beets, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli; cold frames active
April	Tomatoes (Zones 6b–7b), peppers (late Apr), beans, cucumbers (Zones 6–7), potatoes
May	Corn, squash, melons, okra, sweet potatoes (after last frost)
June	Pumpkins, beans, cucumbers, melons, zucchini
July	Squash, okra, pumpkins; start fall broccoli indoors (Zones 5–7)
August	Broccoli, carrots, beets, kale, collards, lettuce
September	Kale, turnip, radish, spinach, leafy greens
October	Garlic (when soil than 60°F), lettuce, spinach, shallots
November	Onions, cover crops, winter greens (protected)
December	Indoor herbs, microgreens, early spring brassicas

New York Cool-Season vs Warm-Season Crop Calendar

Month	Cool-Season Crops	Warm-Season Crops
January	Indoor greens: kale/spinach (Zones 6–7 under cover)	Start tomatoes/peppers indoors (Zones 6–7)
February	Peas, cabbage, spinach, carrots, onions	Warm crops indoors (Zones 6–7)
March	Lettuce, broccoli, beets, cabbage, potatoes	Start indoors (Zones 5–7); transplant only in 7b late Mar
April	Spinach, kale, radish, peas	Tomatoes/peppers outdoors in Zones 6b–7b; else wait
May	Lettuce (shaded), carrots, beets	Corn, squash, melons, okra, beans
June	— (most bolt in heat)	Cucumbers, beans, pumpkins, squash, melons
July	Start fall broccoli/cabbage indoors	Okra, sweet potatoes, heat-loving tomatoes
August	Broccoli, kale, carrots, beets, collards	Final beans/squash in Zones 6–7; else wind down
September	Kale, spinach, radish, turnips, leafy greens	— (except late tomatoes in Zone 7)
October	Lettuce, spinach, garlic, cabbage	—
November	Onions, winter greens (under cover)	—
December	Indoor greens & herbs	—

Quick Seasonal Takeaway

Season	Best Crop Type
Late Winter–Early Spring	Cool-season
Late Spring–Summer	Warm-season
Late Summer–Fall	Cool-season
Winter	Indoor or hardy cool-season only

New York Calendar for Seed Starting vs Direct Sowing

Crops	Best Method
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant	Start indoors → transplant
Cabbage family (broccoli, kale, etc.)	Indoors / transplants
Corn, beans, peas, carrots, radish	Direct sow
Squash, melons, cucumbers	Direct sow
Lettuce, spinach	Direct sow
Herbs	Mixed

New York Pest & Disease Timing Calendar

Month	Pest/Disease	Prevention
March–April	Aphids, flea beetles	Row covers; insecticidal soap
April–June	Cabbage worms	BT spray; floating row covers
May–July	Tomato hornworm	Daily inspection; hand-pick
June–August	Squash vine borer	Wrap stems with aluminum foil
July–September	Powdery mildew	Drip irrigation; increase spacing
August–October	Late blight (tomatoes/potatoes)	Avoid overhead watering; remove infected plants
September–November	Slugs, harlequin bugs	Beer traps; remove garden debris

New York Fruit Trees & Berries Calendar—Planting Schedule

Fruit Type	Best Planting Window
Apple, pear, cherry	March–April
Peach, plum	April
Blueberries	March–April
Strawberries	Early spring or August
Raspberries/blackberries	March–April or Sept–Oct
Grapes (cold-hardy)	April

New York Perennial Vegetables Calendar

Crop	Planting Window
Asparagus	April–May
Rhubarb	March–April
Horseradish	March–April or Sept–Oct
Walking onions	Sept–November

New York Pollinator Planting Calendar

Season	Recommended Plants
Early Spring	Red maple, serviceberry, crocus, pansies
Late Spring	Milkweed, bee balm, wild columbine
Summer	Coneflowers, zinnias, sunflowers, Joe-Pye weed
Fall	Asters, goldenrod, sedum, mums
Winter	Hollies, native grasses, oak

Cover Crops Calendar for Soil Health in New York

Cover Crop	Planting Window	Benefits
Winter rye	August–October	Prevents erosion; builds organic matter
Hairy vetch	August–September	Fixes nitrogen; pairs with rye
Crimson clover	August–September (Zones 5–7)	Nitrogen + pollinator support
Buckwheat	May–July	Fast-growing; suppresses weeds; attracts beneficials
Oats	August–September	Winter-kills (no spring tilling needed)

Data sources

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
NOAA Frost Probability Data
Cornell Planting Calendar resource

Common Questions About Planting in New York

For Other State Calendars

Check out these planting calendars: