Zone 4b planting calendar

What to plant in June: zone 4b

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 4b: last spring frost around May 15, first fall frost around September 25. Zones are set by winter lows, not frost dates, so two gardens in the same zone can be weeks apart. Measure your ZIP below for dates from your area's own 30-year record.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Typical last frost: May 15
Typical first frost: September 25
Winter lows: -25 to -20 °F
Zone 4b Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Transplant out

  • Sweet Potatoaround Jun 5

    Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Plant rooted slips, not seed. Wait until soil holds 65F, then let vines sprawl and cure roots at 80F for 10 days before storage: that curing step is what makes them sweet.

  • Eggplantaround Jun 5

    Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Eggplant sulks in cold soil. Transplant 3 weeks after last frost, not on it. Harvest while skin is glossy: dull skin means bitter, seedy flesh.

  • Okraaround Jun 5

    Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Okra wants hot soil, 70F+, or seed rots. Pick pods at 3-4 in every other day: one pod left to toughen tells the plant to stop producing.

Direct sow

  • Okraaround Jun 5

    Soil is ready 3 weeks after last frost.

  • Winter squasharound Jun 5

    Warm soil: first summer sowing of winter squash.

  • Beetaround Jun 12

    Warm soil: first summer sowing of beet.

  • Carrotaround Jun 12

    Warm soil: first summer sowing of carrot.

Garden care

  • Mulch every bed3 sowings: Jun 5 and Jun 12 and Jun 26

    3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

Succession sow

  • Bush bean2 sowings: Jun 12 and Jun 26

    Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Sweet corn2 sowings: Jun 12 and Jun 26

    Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Cucumberaround Jun 19

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Zucchiniaround Jun 19

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Basilaround Jun 19

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Winter squasharound Jun 26

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

Start indoors for fall

  • Kalearound Jun 17

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

  • Broccoliaround Jun 28

    Seedlings need 5 weeks before they go out for a fall harvest.

Direct sow for fall

  • Parsleyaround Jun 19

    Fall parsley window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.

  • Bush beanaround Jun 24

    Fall bush bean window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.

  • Lettucearound Jun 25

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.

  • Peaaround Jun 29

    Fall pea window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.

  • Cilantroaround Jun 30

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.

  • Carrotaround Jun 30

    Fall carrot window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.

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