Zone 3a planting calendar

What to plant in February: zone 3a

Zone 3a averages its last spring frost around May 30 and its first fall frost around September 10. 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: May 30
First frost: September 10
Winter lows: -40 to -35 °F
Zone 3a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Plan & order

  • Sort what you already have, toss anything over 3 years old, and order early while varieties are in stock.

  • Rotate families off last year's ground. Nightshades, brassicas and cucurbits each move to a new bed.

  • Soil testaround Feb 21

    A $20 test now tells you what to amend before planting instead of guessing all season.

Dormant care

  • Clean, sharpen and oil blades while there's time. Dull tools bruise plants and slow you down.

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