Zone 3a planting calendar

What to plant in May: 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.

Garden care

Start indoors

  • Lettucearound May 2

    4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-30). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.

  • Swiss Chardaround May 2

    4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-30). Cut outer stalks 2 in above the crown and the plant keeps producing from spring into hard frost. One planting can feed a household all season.

  • Bok Choyaround May 2

    4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-30). Bolts fast once days lengthen past 14 hours. Grow it as an early spring or fall crop, not a summer one.

  • Endivearound May 2

    4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-30). Blanch heads by tying outer leaves shut 2 weeks before harvest to mellow the natural bitterness.

  • Escarolearound May 2

    4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-30). Broader and milder than curly endive; a light frost sweetens the outer leaves before harvest.

  • Pumpkinaround May 9

    3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-30). Count back 100 days from your first frost to time a Halloween harvest. Cure cut pumpkins in the sun for 10 days and leave 3 in of stem so they store for months.

Direct sow

  • Lettucearound May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Spinacharound May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Radisharound May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Turniparound May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Arugulaaround May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Mizunaaround May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Tatsoiaround May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Mustard Greensaround May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Broccoli Raabaround May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Shallotaround May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Endivearound May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Escarolearound May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Orach (Mountain Spinach)around May 2

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Carrotaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Kalearound May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Beetaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Onionaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Broccoliaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Chivesaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Kohlrabiaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Bok Choyaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Scallion (Green Onion)around May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Parsniparound May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Salsifyaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Sorrelaround May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Flax (Seed)around May 9

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Potatoaround May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Cilantroaround May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Parsleyaround May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Swiss Chardaround May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Collardsaround May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Burdock (Gobo)around May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Chamomile (German)around May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Carawayaround May 16

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Quinoaaround May 23

    Soil is ready -1 weeks before last frost.

  • Dillaround May 30

    Soil is ready 0 weeks after last frost.

Transplant out

  • Asparagusaround May 2

    Goes out 4 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Horseradisharound May 2

    Goes out 4 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Kalearound May 9

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Broccoliaround May 9

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Chivesaround May 9

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Strawberryaround May 9

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Kohlrabiaround May 9

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Bok Choyaround May 9

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Scallion (Green Onion)around May 9

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Lettucearound May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Onionaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Parsleyaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Mintaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Cabbagearound May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Caulifloweraround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Swiss Chardaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Collardsaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Leekaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Napa Cabbagearound May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Romanescoaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Endivearound May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Escarolearound May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Radicchioaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Sorrelaround May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Chamomile (German)around May 16

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

Plan & order

  • Order fall seedaround May 13

    Fall brassicas and greens get sown in the heat of summer. Have the seed on hand before that window opens.

Start indoors for fall

  • Broccoliaround May 16

    Fall broccoli window opens. Sow trays any time in the next four weeks.

Turn this into your own calendar

Want this calendar emailed to you?

Get the full 12-month version for your ZIP area. Every sowing, transplant, and harvest window, with reminders you can add to your calendar.

Build my free plan Find my zone & frost dates