Planting Zones
The accompanying planting tables, together with the frost-zone maps (figs. 9 and 10), are based upon records of the United States Weather Bureau covering a period of 20 years and are intended to serve as a guide for determining the earliest dates that the various garden crops may be planted in the spring; also the latest dates that it will be safe to plant certain crops and have them mature before the first killing frost in the autumn. It should be borne in mind that there is a difference of several days in the frost occurrence within each zone; this is due to differences in altitude and latitude, and also to the proximity of bodies of water and large tracts of timber.
EARLIEST PLANTING DATES
Earliest safe dates for planting vegetables in the open in the zones shown in [figure 9]
| Crop | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D | Zone E | Zone F | Zone G | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bean | { | Lima | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to 15 | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1 | May 15 to June 15 | ... |
| Snap | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to 30 | Apr. 1 to May 1 | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1 | May 15 to June 15. | ||
| Beet | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1. | ||
| Brussels sprouts | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ||
| Cabbage | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Jan. 15 to Feb. 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to May 15. | ||
| Carrot | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to 15 | May 1 to June 1. | ||
| Cauliflower | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ||
| Celery | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ||
| Chard | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ||
| Collard | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | ... | ... | ||
| Corn, sweet | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15. | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to May 1 | Apr. 15 to May 15 | May 1 to June 1 | May 15 to June 15. | ||
| Cucumber | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to June 1 | May 15 to June 15 | June 1 to 15. | ||
| Eggplant | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ... | ||
| Kale | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to 15. | ||
| Kohl-rabi | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to May 1 | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1. | ||
| Lettuce | { | Head | do. | do. | do. | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | do. | do. | do. |
| Leaf | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to May 15. | ||
| Melons | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to June 1 | June 1 to 15 | ... | ||
| Okra, or gumbo | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to Mar. 15 | Mar. 15 to 30 | do. | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1 | ... | ||
| Onion sets | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 1 to May 1 | May 1 to 15. | ||
| Parsley | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to May 1 | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1. | ||
| Parsnip | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ||
| Peas | { | Smooth | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to June 1. |
| Wrinkled | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to May 1 | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1. | ||
| Peppers | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to June 1 | June 1 to 15 | ... | ||
| Potatoes | { | Irish | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to June 1. |
| Sweet | Mar. 1 to 15. | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to 15. | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to June 1 | June 1 to 15 | ... | ||
| Pumpkin | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ... | ||
| Radish | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to 15. | ||
| Salsify | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15. | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to 15 | May 15 to June 1. | ||
| Spinach | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | ||
| Squash | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 1 | Apr. 1 to 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to June 1 | June 1 to 15 | ... | ||
| Tomato | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. | May 15 to June 15 | June 1 to 15. | ||
| Turnip | Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 to 15 | Feb. 15 to Mar. 1 | Mar. 1 to 15 | Mar. 15 to Apr. 15 | Apr. 15 to May 1 | May 1 to 15. | ||
Owing to the varied character of the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast regions, it is not practicable to present the planting information in zone form, as there may be a very great difference in the dates of killing frosts in the same general locality on account of elevation. Gardeners on the Pacific coast should be guided by the experience of competent persons in their own neighborhood. The coast region of Oregon and Washington is so influenced by ocean currents that a separate map would have to be designed to meet its requirements. Sufficient data upon which to base a map for this region are not at hand.
In zones A, B, C, and parts of zone D of the eastern United States, cabbage, turnips, spinach, kale, collards, and certain varieties of onions may be grown in the open ground throughout the winter. In certain parts of zone E spinach and kale may be grown all winter. In zone F such crops as sweet potatoes, melons, eggplants, and peppers should be planted only under the most favorable conditions, as the season is sometimes too short for their full development under adverse conditions.
Garden plants are divided into about four more or less distinct groups.
Early cabbage plants, kale, onion sets, smooth peas, Irish potatoes, and radishes may be planted two weeks before the average date of the last killing frost.
Beets, Swiss chard, carrots, lettuce, wrinkled peas, cauliflower, spinach, and sweet corn may be planted about the date of the last killing frost.
LATEST PLANTING DATES
Latest safe dates for planting vegetables for the fall garden in the zones[9] shown in [figure 9]
| Crop | Zone C | Zone D | Zone E | Zone F | Zone G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bean: | |||||
| Pole Lima | Sept. 15 | Aug. 1 | July 15 | July 1 | ... |
| Snap | do. | Sept. 1 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 1 | July 15 |
| Beet | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. |
| Cabbage | Sept. 1 | Aug. 15 | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 |
| Carrot | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. |
| Cauliflower | do. | do. | do. | do. | do. |
| Celery | Oct. 1 | Sept. 1 | Aug. 1 | do. | May 15 |
| Chard, Swiss | Sept. 15 | do. | Aug. 15 | Aug. 1 | July 15 |
| Corn, sweet | Aug. 15 | Aug. 1 | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 |
| Cucumber | do. | do. | do. | do. | ... |
| Eggplant | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 | June 1 | ... |
| Kale | Nov. 1 | Oct. 1 | Sept. 15 | Sept. 1 | Aug. 15 |
| Lettuce | do. | Oct. 15 | Oct. 1 | Sept. 15 | Sept. 1 |
| Melons: | |||||
| Muskmelon | June 15 | June 1 | May 15 | May 1 | ... |
| Watermelon | July 1 | July 1 | June 15 | ... | ... |
| Okra | July 15 | do. | do. | June 1 | ... |
| Onion sets | do. | do. | do. | do. | May 15 |
| Parsley | Nov. 1 | Oct. 1 | Sept. 1 | Aug. 1 | July 1 |
| Parsnip | ... | ... | May 15 | May 1 | Apr. 15 |
| Pea | Nov. 1 | Oct. 1 | Sept. 1 | Aug. 1 | July 15 |
| Peppers | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 | June 1 | ... |
| Potatoes: | |||||
| Irish | Aug. 15 | Aug. 1 | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 |
| Sweet | do. | July 15 | June 15 | May 1 | ... |
| Radish | Oct. 15 | Oct. 1 | Sept. 15 | Sept. 1 | Aug. 15 |
| Salsify | June 15 | June 1 | May 15 | May 1 | Apr. 15 |
| Spinach | Oct. 5 | Oct. 1 | Sept. 1 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 1 |
| Squash: | |||||
| Bush | Aug. 15 | Aug.1 | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 |
| Vine | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 | June 1 | ... |
| Tomato | Aug. 15 | July 15 | July 1 | June 15 | ... |
| Turnip | Oct. 15 | Oct. 1 | Sept. 1 | Aug. 1 | July 15 |
[9] Zones A and B are sections in which many vegetables are planted late in the fall to form the winter garden or early spring garden.
Beans, parsnips, salsify, melons, cucumbers, tomato, and sweet-potato plants may be planted after the last killing frost.
The heat-loving plants, such as peppers, eggplants, Lima beans, and the squashes, should not be planted in the open until the ground has thoroughly warmed, which will be about four weeks after the last killing frost.
There are a number of crops, such as snap beans, lettuce, radishes, and beets, that should be planted at intervals in order to insure a continuous supply throughout the season. In the case of snap beans as many as five different plantings may be had in some sections. In the southern part of the United States special attention should be given to the planting of the semihardy crops, such as spinach, kale, and cabbage, during the autumn, in order to have a supply throughout the winter.
Fig. 9.—Outline map of the United States, showing zones based on the average date of the last killing frost in spring. The time of planting for the various vegetables is determined for every section by the dates given on this map.
![[Larger map]](#9022837828765069470_illo272lg.png.id-8255054686353808994.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
By following the table showing the latest safe dates for planting (see also [fig. 10]), the various crops will mature during average years; however, there may be seasons when the first killing frost in the autumn occurs earlier than usual and some of the later plantings will be lost. The late planting of vegetables prolongs the season of usefulness and is worth a chance.