Zone 3b planting calendar

What to plant in April — zone 3b

Zone 3b averages its last spring frost around May 25 and its first fall frost around September 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.

Last frost: May 25
First frost: September 15
Winter lows: -35 to -30 °F

Dormant care

  • Pre-sprout seed potatoesaround Apr 13

    Chit potatoes in a bright, cool spot for 2 weeks — sprouted pieces jump ahead once planted.

Start indoors

  • Tomatoaround Apr 13

    6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-25). Bury 2/3 of the transplant stem — roots form along the buried stem for a stronger plant.

  • Kalearound Apr 13

    6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-25). Fall crop sweetens after first frost — plan a July sowing for the best flavor.

  • Broccoliaround Apr 13

    6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-25). After cutting the main head, side shoots keep coming for weeks — don't pull the plant.

  • Basilaround Apr 13

    6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-25). Pinch flower spikes the moment you see them — leaves stay sweet all season.

  • Lettucearound Apr 27

    4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-25). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.

Transplant out

  • Raspberryaround Apr 13

    Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.

  • Blueberryaround Apr 13

    Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.

  • Applearound Apr 13

    Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.

  • Rhubarbaround Apr 13

    Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.

Garden care

  • Wake the bedsaround Apr 20

    Turn in compost, cut down cover crops, and let the soil warm two weeks before the first sowing.

  • Harden off early transplantsaround Apr 27

    Two weeks of increasing outdoor time keeps cold-hardy seedlings from stalling when they go out.

Direct sow

  • Peaaround Apr 20

    Soil is ready -5 weeks before last frost.

  • Lettucearound Apr 27

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Spinacharound Apr 27

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

  • Radisharound Apr 27

    Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.

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