Author: Chrissa Carlson, UME Healthy School Communities Coordinator
These calendars were created for Central Maryland. You will need to adjust the timeline for Western, Northern, and Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore.
Frost/freeze dates
The number of frost-free growing days ranges from 155 in far Western Maryland to 230 on the Lower Eastern Shore. A wide range of warm and cool-season crops can be grown with planning and care.
- Spring frost/freeze dates
- Fall frost/freeze dates
- Purdue University's Freeze Date Tool
Determine Approximate Soil Temperature
Enter your zip code in the following link to learn the approximate soil temperature in your area.
This is information is important to know when direct seeding seeds like beans, cucumbers, melons, and other crops that germinate in warm soil. They require soil temperatures of at least 60 degrees F. otherwise the chance of them sitting in the soil and rotting is great.
Vegetable planting calendar - plain text version
- This calendar is based on a last and first frost date around May 1 and October 31, respectively. Dates may be adjusted by finding the average frost dates in your area at the National Gardening Association's website. The range of dates given is the period of time during which you can plant each vegetable and expect success. For a sustained harvest, plant a little bit of that vegetable every two weeks (succession planting).
- Directly sowing seeds in the ground is possible for many vegetables. This is the default method shown for each vegetable that produces well from direct-sown plants. Plants marked with a * may also be planted as seedlings for an earlier harvest. Plants that are not marked with a * do not transplant well and should only be direct sown.
- Plants that have a long period from seed to harvest compared to their preferred growing season must be started indoors and transplanted outside as seedlings. Growing seedlings indoors requires the use of grow lights.
- If you do not wish to grow your own seedlings, buy transplants to plant during the transplant period shown in the Planting Time column.
- Harvest dates are approximate based on planting on the earliest planting date and extending to the latest possible date. Achieving a sustained harvest through this period may depend on planting several successions.
| Crop name | Planting time and method | Harvest time |
|---|---|---|
|
Asparagus |
Mid-March through mid-April, plant seedlings in the ground |
April through the first week of June |
|
Beans, Lima |
Mid-May through the mid-July, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Third week of July through September |
|
Beans, Snap |
May through July, plant seeds directly in the ground |
July through mid-October |
|
Beets |
April through July, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Mid-May through June |
|
Broccoli spring crop |
February through March, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants April, transplant seedlings in the ground |
Mid-May through June |
|
Broccoli fall crop |
Late June through early July, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants Mid-July through early August, transplant seedlings in the ground |
October through mid-November |
| Brussels Sprouts |
May, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants Mid-June through mid-July, transplant seedlings in the ground |
September through December |
|
Cabbage spring crop |
Mid-February through mid-March, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants Mid-March through mid-April, transplant seedlings in the ground |
June through July |
|
Cabbage fall crop |
Mid-June through mid-July, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants Mid-July through mid-August, transplant seedlings in the ground |
Mid-September through mid-November |
|
Cabbage, Chinese* |
Spring: Mid-March through April, plant seeds directly in the ground Fall: July through the early August, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Spring: May through the mid-June Fall: End of August through September |
|
Cantaloupe/Muskmelon* |
Mid-May through mid-June, plant seeds directly in the ground | Jul through September |
| Carrots | Mid-April through May and again mid-June through July, plant seeds directly in the ground | Mid-June through October |
|
Cauliflower spring crop |
March, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants April, transplant seedlings outside |
Mid-May through June |
|
Cauliflower fall crop |
June, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants July, transplant seedlings outside |
Mid-September through mid-November |
| Chard, Swiss* | Mid-April through the third week of July, plant seeds directly in the ground | June through mid-November |
| Collards |
March through April and again early June through early July, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings April and May and early July through early August, transplant seedlings outside |
May through mid-December |
| Cucumbers* | Mid-May through mid-July, plant seeds directly in the ground | Early June through October |
| Eggplant |
April, plant seeds indoors to grow transplants Mid-May through mid-June, transplant seedlings outside |
July through October |
| Garlic | Mid October through mid-November or from mid-March through mid-April, plant individual garlic cloves in the ground | June through September |
| Kale* |
Spring: Early April and early July through mid-August, plant seeds in the ground Fall: Second week of July through the first two weeks of September |
May through December |
|
Kohlrabi* spring crop |
April through mid-May, plant seeds in the ground | May through the third week of June |
|
Kohlrabi* fall crop |
Early July through mid-August, plant seeds directly in the ground | August through the third week of September |
| Leek* | April, plant seeds directly in the ground | Mid-July through August |
|
Lettuce, head spring crop |
March, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings April, transplant seedlings outside |
May through mid-June |
|
Lettuce, head fall crop |
First two weeks of July, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings First two weeks of August, transplant seedlings outside |
September |
|
Lettuce, leaf* spring crop |
Mid-March through May, plant seeds directly in the ground | Mid-April through mid-July |
|
Lettuce, leaf* fall crop |
Mid-July through the first two weeks of September, plant seeds directly in the ground | September through November |
| Lettuce, Romaine* |
Spring: April through mid-May, plant seeds directly in the ground Fall: mid-July through August, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Spring: mid-May through mid-July Fall: September through October |
| Mustards* |
Spring: April through mid-May, plant seeds directly in the ground Fall: Mid-July through mid-September, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Spring: Mid-May through June Fall: September through October |
| Okra* | Last three weeks of May, plant seeds directly in the ground | Mid-July through September |
| Onions |
February, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings April, transplant seedlings outside |
End of July through September |
| Parsley | April, plant seeds directly in the ground | Mid-June through November |
| Parsnips | April, plant seeds directly in the ground | End of July through September |
| Peas | Mid-March through April, plant seeds directly in the ground | May through mid-July |
| Peas, Southern | Mid-May, plants seeds directly in the ground | July through August |
| Peppers |
March through mid-April, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings Mid-May through mid-June, transplant seedlings outside |
Mid-July through September |
| Potatoes | Mid-March through mid-May, plant seed pieces or whole seed potatoes directly in the ground | June through September |
| Pumpkins* | Mid-May through mid-June, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings | September through November |
| Radishes |
Spring: Mid-March through early May, plant seeds directly in the ground Fall: Mid-July through mid-September, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Spring: Mid-April through mid-June Fall: Mid-August through October |
| Rutabagas | July, plant seeds directly in the ground | October through mid-November |
| Salsify | April through mid-May and June, plant seeds directly in the ground | August through mid-October |
| Shallots* |
Spring: end of March through April, plant seeds in the ground Fall: End of September through mid-October, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Mid-June through August |
| Soybeans | Mid-May through June, plant seeds directly in the ground | September through October |
| Spinach |
Spring: mid-March through the end of April, plant seeds directly in the ground Fall: August through early September, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Spring: mid-April through mid-June Fall: mid-September through mid-December |
| Squash, summer* | May through mid-June, plant seeds directly in the ground | mid-June through October |
| Squash, winter* | Mid-May through mid-June, plant seeds directly in the ground | Mid-August through November |
| Sweet Corn |
May through early July, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Mid-September through October |
| Sweet Potatoes |
Mid-April through mid-May, plant sprout slips indoors to grow transplants Mid-May through mid-June, transplant seedlings outside |
Mid-September through October |
| Tomatoes |
Mid-March through mid-May, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings May through early July, transplant seedlings outside |
July through October |
| Turnips |
Spring: mid-March through April, plant seeds directly in the ground Fall: mid-July through August, plant seeds directly in the ground |
Spring: May through June Fall: September through November |
| Watermelon* | Mid-May through mid-June, plant seeds directly in the ground | July through September |
Author: Chrissa Carlson, UME Healthy School Communities Coordinator
Reviewer: Jon Traunfeld, UME Extension Specialist
August 2021
Related information
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