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

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Planting Calendar for Mobile, 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 November 28 (at MOBILE DWTN AP, AL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Oct 10-Nov 14
Moon Oct 14-28
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Sep 5-Oct 3
Moon Sep 5-13, Sep 30-Oct 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Sep 19-Oct 10
Moon Sep 19-29
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 29-Sep 5
Moon Aug 29-30
Frost Sep 19-Oct 3
Moon Sep 19-29
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Aug 29-Sep 5
Moon Aug 29-30
Frost Sep 19-26
Moon Sep 19-26
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Sep 12-19
Moon Sep 12-13
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Aug 22-29
Moon Aug 22-29
Frost Sep 5-12
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Sep 5-Oct 3
Moon Sep 14-29
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Dec 12-26
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 14-26
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Sep 19-Oct 3
Moon Sep 19-29
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 26-Oct 17
Moon Sep 26-29, Oct 14-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Sep 19-Oct 3
Moon Sep 19-29
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Sep 19-Oct 3
Moon Sep 19-29
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Oct 17-31
Moon Oct 29-31
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Oct 10-31
Moon Oct 14-28
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Sep 19-Oct 3
Moon Sep 19-29
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 26-Oct 10
Moon Sep 30-Oct 10
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 3 (at MOBILE DWTN AP, AL climate station, elevation 26 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Feb 10-24
Moon Feb 20-24
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Oct 31
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Feb 17-Mar 3
Moon Feb 17-19
Mar 3
BasilFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 21-31
Frost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 21-31
Oct 17
BeetsN/AFrost Feb 17-Mar 3
Moon Feb 17-19
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 6-10
Mar 17
Bell PeppersFrost Dec 23-Jan 6
Moon Dec 23-Jan 6
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
N/ASep 5
Bok ChoyFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Apr 14
BroccoliFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Feb 17-Mar 3
Moon Feb 20-Mar 3
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Sep 26
Brussels SproutsFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Nov 25-Dec 9
Moon Nov 25-Dec 7
Frost Oct 28-Nov 11
Moon Oct 28-Nov 8
Aug 22
CabbageFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Feb 17-Mar 3
Moon Feb 20-Mar 3
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Aug 15
CantaloupesFrost Feb 10-24
Moon Feb 20-24
Frost Mar 3-17
Moon Mar 3- 7
Frost Mar 10-17
Aug 22
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 6-17
Sep 19
CauliflowerFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Feb 24-Mar 10
Moon Feb 24-Mar 7
N/ASep 19
CeleryFrost Dec 9-23
Moon Dec 23
Frost Mar 10-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 3
Moon Mar 3
Sep 19
ChivesFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Feb 10-17
Frost Feb 10-17
Oct 3
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 3-17
Moon Mar 3- 7
Mar 24
CollardsFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Feb 17-Mar 3
Moon Feb 20-Mar 3
Frost Feb 10-17
Sep 19
CornN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 21-31
Sep 12
CucumbersFrost Feb 10-17
Frost Mar 10-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Sep 19
DillN/AN/AFrost Feb 24-Mar 17
Moon Feb 24-Mar 7
Oct 3
EggplantsFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
N/ASep 19
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Mar 17
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 10-31
Moon Mar 21-31
Sep 19
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Dec 23-Jan 6
Moon Dec 23-Jan 6
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Feb 17-Mar 3
Moon Feb 20-Mar 3
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Mar 17
KohlrabiFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Feb 10-17
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Mar 17
LettuceFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Feb 10-17
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Mar 17
OkraFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 3- 5
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 21-31
Sep 19
Onion SetsN/AFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 6-17
N/AAug 22
OreganoFrost Dec 23-Jan 20
Moon Dec 23-Jan 6
Frost Mar 10-24
Moon Mar 21-24
N/ASep 19
ParsleyFrost Dec 23-Jan 6
Moon Dec 23-Jan 6
Frost Mar 10-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Feb 3-Mar 10
Moon Feb 3- 5, Feb 20-Mar 7
Sep 12
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 6-10
Aug 22
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Mar 17
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 6-17
Sep 19
PumpkinsFrost Feb 10-24
Moon Feb 20-24
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Aug 15
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 6-10
Oct 3
RosemaryFrost Dec 9-23
Moon Dec 23
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
N/AOct 3
SageFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Mar 10-24
Moon Mar 21-24
N/ASep 12
SpinachFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Feb 10-17
Frost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 3- 5
Mar 17
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-20
Aug 15
Swiss ChardFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Feb 17-Mar 3
Moon Feb 20-Mar 3
Frost Feb 10-Mar 3
Moon Feb 20-Mar 3
Mar 17
ThymeFrost Dec 23-Jan 6
Moon Dec 23-Jan 6
Frost Mar 10-17
N/ASep 5
TomatillosFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 21-Feb 3
Frost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 21-31
N/ASep 12
TomatoesFrost Jan 6-20
Moon Jan 6
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
N/AAug 29
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 3-10
Moon Feb 6-10
Oct 31
WatermelonsFrost Feb 10-24
Moon Feb 20-24
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 10-17
Aug 29
Winter SquashFrost Feb 10-17
Frost Mar 10-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Aug 8
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Feb 10-17
Frost Mar 10-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Sep 26
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