First Planting Dates

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The USDA Hardiness Zone map is one of several maps developed to provide this critical climate information. The USDA map is the one most gardeners in the eastern United States rely on, and the one that most national garden magazines, catalogs, books, and nurseries currently use. This map divides North America into 11 separate zones. Each zone is 10 degrees F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone (in some versions of the map, each zone is further divided into "a" and "b" regions). Although a good gardening guide, the map is not perfect. For example, it doesn’t take into account soil drainage during cold periods or freeze-thaw cycles or even the absence of a freeze-thaw cycle. Essex County has more than one USDA Hardiness zone: Zone 3 (High Peaks), Zone 4 (Adirondack foothills), & Zone 5 (Champlain Valley). Home gardeners can make use of season extending techniques, such as high tunnels and row covers, to lengthen their growing season.

In Essex County, the last average frost date for Zones 3 and 4 is June 1, but for Zone 5 is May 15.  The first average fall frost for Zone 3 is August 15, while for Zones 4 and 5 it's October 1.  The chart below shows dates various popular garden vegetables can be planted as seeds, sets or transplants. 

First Seeding & Transplanting Dates for Vegetables in NY

*  Indicates variety is transplanted
(x) Indicates variety may be transplanted or seeded. If transplanted, probably should be later than date given.
(t) Indicates variety may be transplants, sets or seed.

As early as garden may be worked in spring or about late April to mid May depending on your Zone.	After the date of the last average frost for your Zone - see text above.	After the soil has become warm in spring or about early to mid June.
Beets    Broccoli (x)    Brussels Sprouts (x)    Cabbage (x)    Carrots    Cauliflower (x)    Celery (x)    Endive    Kale    Kohlrabi    Leeks    Lettuce    Mustard    Onions (t)    Parsley    Peas    Radish    Swiss Chard    Spinach    Turnips    Rutabagas	Beans    Eggplant*    Pepper*    Popcorn    Potatoes    Sweet Corn    Tomatoes*	Basil    Cucumber    Muskmelon*    Okra*    Pumpkins*    Squashes, Summer    Squashes, Winter*    Watermelon*

Last updated December 5, 2019