Zone 1b planting calendar

What to plant in August: zone 1b

Zone 1b averages its last spring frost around June 15 and its first fall frost around August 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Last frost: June 15
First frost: August 15
Winter lows: -55 to -50 °F
Zone 1b Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Plant to overwinter

  • Garlicaround Aug 1

    Cloves go in about two weeks before first frost. They root now, sleep, then bulb next summer.

Garden care

  • Prune and stake tomatoesaround Aug 3

    Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow. The main defense against blight in humid heat.

  • Shade the cool-season bedaround Aug 10

    30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.

  • Scout for pests weeklyaround Aug 17

    Squash bugs, hornworms and cucumber beetles peak now: five minutes of hand-picking beats a rescue spray.

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