Spring means something completely different depending on where you live. A Zone 4 gardener is still watching snow melt when a Zone 9 gardener is harvesting tomatoes. Here’s your spring vegetable garden checklist, customized for every major USDA zone.
Why Generic Spring Checklists Don’t Work
Every spring, gardening websites publish “Spring Planting Guide!” articles that treat the entire United States as one garden. “Plant tomatoes in March!” they say — which is perfect for Zone 9 and a death sentence in Zone 5.
Your spring checklist needs to be based on your USDA hardiness zone and your last average frost date. These two data points determine everything about your spring garden timing.
How to Find Your Zone and Frost Date
- USDA Zone: Enter your zip code at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (planthardiness.ars.usda.gov)
- Last frost date: Search “[your county] + last frost date” or contact your county extension service
Zone 3–4: The Short-Season Sprint (Last Frost: May 15–June 1)
Zone 3–4 gardeners have the shortest growing seasons in the continental U.S. (90–120 frost-free days). Every day counts.
February–March Checklist
- Order seeds (early varieties, short days-to-maturity)
- Start tomatoes indoors (8 weeks before last frost: March 15–April 1)
- Start peppers indoors (10 weeks before last frost: March 1–15)
- Start broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage indoors
- Check seed-starting equipment: lights, heat mats, trays
- Plan garden layout on paper
April Checklist
- Start cucumbers, squash, melons indoors (3–4 weeks before transplant)
- Direct sow peas outdoors as soon as soil is workable (can handle frost)
- Direct sow spinach, lettuce, radishes if soil is thawed and workable
- Prepare beds: remove debris, add compost, test soil
- Set up cold frames for hardening off transplants
- Plant potatoes (mid-to-late April)
- Direct sow carrots and beets (late April)
May Checklist
- Harden off indoor transplants 7–10 days before planting out
- Transplant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage outdoors (mid-May, with row cover)
- After last frost (late May–June 1): transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Direct sow beans, corn, squash, cucumbers after last frost
- Plant sweet potato slips (after soil warms)
- Mulch all beds 3 inches deep
- Install support structures (cages, stakes, trellises)
- Set up irrigation
Best Short-Season Varieties for Zones 3–4
- Tomatoes: Stupice (52 days), Sub Arctic Plenty (45 days), Early Girl (50 days)
- Peppers: Ace (50 days), King of the North (68 days)
- Squash: Zephyr (54 days), Raven Zucchini (48 days)
- Corn: Early Sunglow (63 days), Bodacious (75 days)
Zone 5–6: The Classic Spring Garden (Last Frost: April 15–May 15)
Most “standard” gardening advice is written for these zones. You have a solid 150–180 day growing season.
February–March Checklist
- Start peppers and eggplant indoors (late February)
- Start tomatoes indoors (6–8 weeks before last frost: March 1–15)
- Start broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage indoors (March 1)
- Order seeds and supplies
- Start herbs indoors: basil, parsley
April Checklist
- Direct sow peas outdoors (early April, Zones 5–6 can go early)
- Direct sow lettuce, spinach, radishes, arugula outdoors
- Plant onion sets and transplants
- Plant potatoes (early-to-mid April)
- Direct sow carrots and beets (mid-April)
- Prepare beds: add compost, remove mulch from overwintered beds
- Transplant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage outdoors (mid-April with protection)
- Start cucumbers and squash indoors (late April)
May Checklist
- After last frost: transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Direct sow beans, corn, squash, cucumbers (after soil reaches 60°F)
- Plant sweet potato slips (mid-to-late May)
- Succession plant lettuce, radishes (every 2 weeks)
- Mulch all beds
- Install support structures
- Watch for late frost warnings — keep row covers handy
Zone 7: The Versatile Middle (Last Frost: April 1–15)
Zone 7 is one of the most versatile gardening zones. You get an early start on warm-season crops and a long window for cool-season planting.
For a complete Zone 7 calendar, see our detailed Zone 7 Vegetable Planting Calendar.
March Checklist
- Direct sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes (early March)
- Plant potatoes (mid-March, St. Patrick’s Day tradition)
- Transplant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage outdoors (mid-March, with row cover)
- Direct sow carrots, beets, Swiss chard
- Plant onion sets and transplants
- Start tomatoes indoors if not already done (late February was ideal)
- Start cucumbers, squash indoors (late March)
April Checklist
- After last frost (April 1–15): transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Direct sow beans, corn (soil temp 60°F+)
- Direct sow cucumbers, squash (soil temp 65°F+)
- Transplant herbs outdoors
- Succession plant lettuce and radishes
- Mulch all beds
- Set up drip irrigation
May Checklist
- Plant sweet potato slips
- Direct sow okra, southern peas (after soil warms)
- Plant melons (watermelon, cantaloupe)
- Succession plant beans
- Harvest spring lettuce, spinach, radishes before they bolt
- Start planning fall garden
Zone 8: The Early Bird (Last Frost: March 1–20)
Zone 8 gardeners get a significant head start on the growing season. Spring comes early and the warm-season window is long.
February Checklist
- Direct sow peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes (early February)
- Plant potatoes (mid-February)
- Transplant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage outdoors
- Plant onion sets and transplants
- Direct sow carrots, beets
- Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors (if not started in January)
March Checklist
- After last frost: transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Direct sow beans, cucumbers, squash (mid-to-late March)
- Direct sow corn (late March, soil temp 60°F+)
- Plant herbs outdoors
- Mulch all beds — summer heat is coming
- Install shade cloth frames for later use
April Checklist
- Plant sweet potato slips
- Direct sow okra, southern peas, melons
- Succession plant beans, squash
- Harvest spring cool-season crops (they’ll bolt soon)
- Set up irrigation system for summer
Zone 9: The Year-Round Garden (Last Frost: February 1–March 1)
Zone 9 gardeners are already harvesting cool-season crops and transitioning to warm-season planting. Spring is a busy overlap period.
For the complete Zone 9 guide, see Best Vegetables to Grow in Zone 9.
January–February Checklist
- Harvest overwintered cool-season crops (lettuce, kale, carrots, broccoli)
- Transplant tomatoes outdoors (late January in 9b, February in 9a)
- Transplant peppers and eggplant
- Direct sow beans, squash, cucumbers (after frost danger passes)
- Plant potatoes (January–February)
- Last sowings of cool-season crops (lettuce, peas) before heat arrives
March Checklist
- Warm-season garden in full swing
- Direct sow corn, beans, squash, cucumbers
- Plant okra, southern peas (mid-March)
- Transplant sweet potato slips
- Remove bolting cool-season crops
- Mulch heavily — summer is approaching fast
- Set up shade cloth for heat-sensitive crops
April Checklist
- Plant melons (watermelon, cantaloupe)
- Last chance for warm-season planting before peak heat
- Harvest early tomatoes
- Deep mulch everything
- Begin daily watering schedule for containers
Zone 10: The Tropical Garden (Frost-Free)
Zone 10 (South Florida, Southern California, Hawaii) has no meaningful frost. Spring is the transition from the cool (dry) season to the hot (wet) season.
January–February Checklist
- Peak cool-season harvest: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, broccoli
- Continue planting warm-season crops
- Direct sow beans, corn, squash
- Plant sweet potato slips
- Harvest root vegetables (carrots, beets) planted in fall
March–April Checklist
- Pull cool-season crops as heat arrives
- Focus on heat-tolerant crops: okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, tropical vegetables
- Prepare for rainy season (summer in Florida): improve drainage, protect against flooding
- Plant tropical vegetables: cassava, calabaza, malanga, chayote
Universal Spring Checklist (All Zones)
Regardless of your zone, these tasks apply every spring:
Soil Preparation
- Test soil (pH, nutrients) — do this every 2–3 years at minimum
- Add 2–3 inches of compost to beds and work in
- Amend pH if needed (lime for acidic, sulfur for alkaline)
- Check drainage — fix any waterlogging issues before planting
Infrastructure
- Repair or replace raised beds, fences, and trellises
- Clean and sharpen tools
- Check irrigation systems for leaks and clogs
- Install new support structures (tomato cages, bean poles)
- Set up rain gauges to monitor natural precipitation
Planning
- Map your garden layout with crop rotation in mind
- Order seeds early — popular varieties sell out
- Check seed viability (most seeds last 2–5 years if stored properly)
- Plan succession plantings for continuous harvest
- Set up a garden journal or tracking system
Planting Fundamentals
- Harden off all indoor-started transplants for 7–10 days before planting out
- Plant in the morning or evening, never midday
- Water transplants immediately after planting
- Mulch all beds 2–3 inches deep
- Label everything — you will forget what you planted where
Ongoing Care
- Scout for pests weekly — catch problems early
- Keep on top of weeds — they steal water and nutrients
- Water deeply and consistently (1 inch per week, adjusted for rain)
- Feed heavy feeders (tomatoes, peppers, squash) monthly with organic fertilizer
- Succession plant lettuce, radishes, beans every 2–3 weeks
The One Thing Every Zone Has in Common
Whether you’re in Zone 3 or Zone 10, the same principle applies: plant the right thing at the right time for your specific location. Generic advice kills gardens. Regional, zone-specific guidance grows them.
That’s exactly why we created Harvest Home Guides — to give every gardener a month-by-month plan tailored to their region.
For a complete regional growing guide with month-by-month detail, check out the Harvest Home Guides book series. Texas is coming first, with more regions to follow.