Gardening in zone 4a
In USDA zone 4a, the coldest winter night averages -30 to -25°F. The typical last spring frost is around May 12 and the first fall frost around Sep 28.
A zone tells you about winter cold, not about timing: across zone 4a, last spring frosts range from about May 5 to May 25, and first fall frosts from Sep 20 to Oct 4. Plan from your own frost dates where you can.
Zone 4a is common in: North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, New York, Maine, South Dakota, Michigan, Vermont, Wyoming
Zone 4a planting schedule
Dates below count from the zone’s typical frost dates, so treat them as a starting point. For dates set to your exact ZIP code, use the planting calendar.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Around Mar 31 | Around May 26 | — |
| Pepper | Around Mar 17 | Around May 26 | — |
| Eggplant | Around Mar 17 | Around May 26 | — |
| Basil | Around Mar 31 | Around May 26 | — |
| Cucumber | Around Apr 21 | Around May 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Around Apr 21 | Around May 19 | — |
| Butternut Squash | Around Apr 21 | Around May 19 | — |
| Watermelon | Around Apr 21 | Around May 26 | — |
| Corn | — | Around May 12 | — |
| Green Bean | — | Around May 19 | — |
| Pea | — | Around Mar 31 | Around Jul 20 |
| Lettuce | — | Around Apr 14 | Around Aug 10 |
| Spinach | — | Around Mar 31 | Around Aug 3 |
| Kale | Around Mar 31 | Around May 12 | Around Jul 20 |
| Broccoli | Around Mar 17 | Around Apr 28 | Around Jun 22 |
| Cabbage | Around Mar 31 | Around May 12 | Around Jun 22 |
| Carrot | — | Around Apr 21 | Around Jul 13 |
| Beet | — | Around Apr 14 | Around Jul 20 |
| Radish | — | Around Apr 14 | Around Aug 17 |
| Onion | Around Mar 3 | Around Apr 21 | — |
| Potato | — | Around Apr 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | — | Around Oct 12 |
Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (50% chance of 32°F), middle value across the zone's ZIP codes.
Other zones: 3b · 4b · 5a · 5b · 6a · 6b · 7a · 7b · 8a · 8b · 9a · 9b · 10a