So it's already May and you haven't started on your planting yet this year. Is it too late? Probably not. Check out our zone-by-zone planting guide to discover when you can start planting and when it's too late.
Planting Veggies by Zone
Before you can determine when it's too late to start planting in your zone, you need to know the approximate growing times for different types of veggies. That way, you can calculate based on the maturation date exactly when you still have time to plant.
| Vegetable | Days to Mature Fully | Notes |
| Beans | 50 to 75 days | bush beans are faster, pole beans are slower |
| Beets | 45 to 60 days | depends on variety |
| Bell peppers | 70 to 80 days | plus an additional 2-3 weeks to ripen for yellow, orange, or red |
| Broccoli | 55 to 90 days | grows faster in cooler climates |
| Brussels sprouts | 80 to 100 days | can harvest sprouts at the bottom first — ripen from bottom up |
| Cabbage (green) | 65 to 75 days | temp needs to be 60°F and 65°F |
| Cabbage (Napa) | 60 to 70 days | from transplants; add 10-20 days from seed |
| Carrots | 60 to 90 days | warm temperatures slow growth |
| Cauliflower | 50 to 100 days | warm temps slow growth |
| Corn | 60 to 100 days | depends on variety — check seed pack for more info |
| Cucumber | 50 to 70 days | |
| Garlic | 6 to 8 months | plant in fall |
| Kale | 50 to 55 days | from seed |
| Kohlrabi | 50 to 60 days | grows slower in hot weather |
| Lettuce | 44 to 55 days | can usually plant multiple crops |
| Okra | 60 to 70 days | some varieties ripen in 50 days — check seed packet |
| Parsnips | 100 to 120 days | can grow late into fall and withstand temps of about 35°F |
| Peas | 60 days | stop growing in temps over 85°F |
| Potatoes | 90 to 120 days | |
| Pumpkins | 90 to 125 days | |
| Radish | 25 to 45 days | can plant multiple crops |
| Rutabaga | 80 to 100 days | grow faster in cool weather |
| Spinach | 25 to 50 days | can harvest baby leaves at the earliest dates |
| Squash (summer) | 50 to 75 days | |
| Squash (winter) | 80 to 100 days | |
| Swiss chard | 60 to 65 days | can harvest leaves when they're small |
You can take the maturation day number and apply it to the calendar, starting with the day you'll plant the seeds. If the plant takes longer than the calculated time frame needed to grow and harvest, then it's too late to plant. You're better off to start planning for next year's garden.
Zone 3
Zone 3 growing season is roughly between May 15 (last frost) and September 15 (first frost). This only gives a four-month growing season. It's best to plant seeds and transplants as soon as possible.
- Cool-weather vegetables do well in this hardiness zone.
- The latest time to plant for most vegetables would be the second week in June, with a short harvest time.
- If planting crops that mature within 50 days, you could plant those as late as the last week in June, but keep in mind the weather will be turning cooler, especially at night.
- Cool crops are best for late plantings.
Zone 4
The growing season for Zone 4 is from May 15-June 1 (last frost) to September 15-October 1 (first frost). The same planting times for Zone 3 can apply to this zone since the first frost could come as early as September.
Zone 5
The Zone 5 growing season is typically from May 15 (last frost) to October 15 (first frost). There is the possibility of a second garden harvest if you plant no later than June 15. You can have a cool-weather garden until the first frost, such as lettuce, carrots, radishes, beets, and Brussels sprouts.
Zone 6
The growing season for Zone 6 is typically from April 1-15 (last frost) to October 15-30 (first frost). This can provide two growing seasons. Plant your second garden no later than the second week in July to reap a moderate harvest. A second garden planted in June should provide an abundant harvest until the first frost.
Zone 7
The growing season for Zone 7 is mid-April (last frost) to mid-October (first frost). You can plant a second garden no later than the last week in June for short-maturation crops. A June 1 planting in Zone 7 will give you enough time to enjoy a sizeable second harvest.
Zone 8
The growing season for Zone 8 is from March 21-31 (last frost) to October 11-20 (first frost). You can plant vegetables as late as the second week in July for a short harvest time frame.
Zone 9
The growing season for Zone 9 is almost continuous. The only time frame you need to be concerned about is less than two weeks in January when the first and last frosts occur.
Planting Flower Seeds
The majority of annual flower seeds are planted in April for spring and summer blooming, which will go into the fall for some varieties.
- Perennials are best planted in the fall.
- Bulbs should be planted while the soil is still warm and mulched to overwinter. If you've already had a frost, it's too late to plant them.
- Wildflowers and other flower seeds can be planted in the fall to emerge in the spring.
- Fall mums should be planted in the spring after the last frost.
Transplants
You can always transplant annual flowers during the summer growing season as long as you fertilize and water during the hot summer days. The flower display won't be as profuse as ones planted in the spring, but they'll be blooming until the first frost.
Understanding Late Garden Plantings
While you can plant to the first frost date, it's always best to allow as much growing time as possible. If you missed the spring planting, then calculate which vegetables you can grow now and still have a harvest before the first frost.
