When to plant in Vermont
Most of Vermont sees its last spring frost between Apr 30 and May 20, and its first fall frost between Sep 27 and Oct 12. The middle of the state is around May 13 and October 2: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Vermont: 4a (4%), 4b (23%), 5a (58%), 5b (15%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 8 | May 27 – Jun 10 | Aug 5 – Oct 2 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 25 | May 27 – Jun 10 | Aug 10 – Oct 2 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Jul 21 – Sep 8 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Jul 16 – Sep 24 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Aug 30 – Oct 2 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Jul 21 – Sep 1 | — |
| Peas | — | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | May 31 – Jul 5 | Jul 13 – Jul 27 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Aug 10 – Sep 7 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | May 30 – Jul 11 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Spinach | — | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | May 11 – Jun 22 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Kale | Mar 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 9 – Sep 1 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Broccoli | Mar 11 | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 21 – Jul 26 | Jul 27 – Aug 10 |
| Cabbage | Mar 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 24 – Jul 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jul 1 – Aug 12 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Beet | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 16 – Jul 28 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Radish | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | May 3 – May 31 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Jul 17 – Aug 21 | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 25 – Oct 16 (fall) | Jul 8 – Jul 29 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jul 21 – Aug 25 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 22 | Jun 3 – Jun 17 | Sep 11 – Oct 2 | — |
| Watermelon | — | Jun 3 – Jun 17 | Aug 27 – Oct 1 | — |
| Basil | Apr 15 | May 27 – Jun 10 | Jun 26 – Oct 2 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 10 – Jul 8 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Aug 15 – Sep 19 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Vermont. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Vermont
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montpelier | 4b | May 5 | Oct 9 |
| Brattleboro | 5b | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| Burlington | 5a | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Colchester | 5a | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| East Corinth | 5a | May 14 | Sep 29 |
| Essex Junction | 5a | May 2 | Oct 15 |
| Readsboro | 5b | May 14 | Oct 4 |
| Rutland | 5a | May 16 | Oct 2 |
| Saint Albans | 5a | May 18 | Oct 12 |
| South Burlington | 5a | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.