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2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Planting Calendar for Florence, AL

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you're already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost but also many are frost-tolerant—and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they can still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot tempertures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 30 (at MUSCLE SHOALS 2 N, AL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 11-Oct 16
Moon Sep 14-29
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 7-Sep 4
Moon Aug 7-15, Aug 31-Sep 4
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 21-Sep 11
Moon Aug 21-30
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 31-Aug 7
Moon Jul 31-Aug 1
Frost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 21-30
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Jul 31-Aug 7
Moon Jul 31-Aug 1
Frost Aug 21-28
Moon Aug 21-28
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 14-21
Moon Aug 14-15
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 24-31
Moon Jul 24-31
Frost Aug 7-14
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 7-Sep 4
Moon Aug 16-30
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Nov 12-26
Moon Nov 12
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 14-28
Moon Aug 16-28
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 21-30
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 28-Sep 18
Moon Aug 28-30, Sep 14-18
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 21-30
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 21-30
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 18-Oct 2
Moon Sep 30-Oct 2
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 11-Oct 2
Moon Sep 14-29
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 21-30
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Aug 31-Sep 11
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 3 (at MUSCLE SHOALS 2 N, AL climate station, elevation 531 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Oct 2
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20
Apr 3
BasilFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Sep 18
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 8-13
Apr 17
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-Feb 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
N/AAug 7
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
May 15
BroccoliFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 21-Apr 3
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Aug 28
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Dec 25-Jan 8
Moon Dec 25-Jan 6
Frost Nov 27-Dec 11
Moon Nov 27-Dec 7
Jul 24
CabbageFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 21-Apr 3
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Jul 17
CantaloupesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3- 5
Frost Apr 10-17
Jul 24
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 8-20
Aug 21
CauliflowerFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
N/AAug 21
CeleryFrost Jan 8-22
Moon Jan 21-22
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 3
Moon Apr 3
Aug 21
ChivesFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Mar 13-20
Frost Mar 13-20
Sep 4
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3- 5
Apr 24
CollardsFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 21-Apr 3
Frost Mar 13-20
Aug 21
CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Aug 14
CucumbersFrost Mar 13-20
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Aug 21
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 27-Apr 17
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Sep 4
EggplantsFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
N/AAug 21
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Apr 17
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Aug 21
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-Feb 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 21-Apr 3
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Apr 17
KohlrabiFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Mar 13-20
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Apr 17
LettuceFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Mar 13-20
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Apr 17
OkraFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5- 7
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Aug 21
Onion SetsN/AFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 8-20
N/AJul 24
OreganoFrost Jan 22-Feb 19
Moon Jan 22-Feb 5
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
N/AAug 21
ParsleyFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-Feb 5
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Mar 5-Apr 10
Moon Mar 5- 7, Mar 21-Apr 5
Aug 14
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 8-13
Jul 24
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Apr 17
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 8-20
Aug 21
PumpkinsFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Jul 17
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 8-13
Sep 4
RosemaryFrost Jan 8-22
Moon Jan 21-22
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
N/ASep 4
SageFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
N/AAug 14
SpinachFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Mar 13-20
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5- 7
Apr 17
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-18
Jul 17
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 21-Apr 3
Frost Mar 13-Apr 3
Moon Mar 21-Apr 3
Apr 17
ThymeFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-Feb 5
Frost Apr 10-17
N/AAug 7
TomatillosFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 20-Mar 5
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
N/AAug 14
TomatoesFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
N/AJul 31
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 8-13
Oct 2
WatermelonsFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 10-17
Jul 31
Winter SquashFrost Mar 13-20
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Jul 10
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Mar 13-20
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Aug 28
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