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

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Planting Calendar for Pelham, 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 2 (at HELENA, AL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 14-Oct 19
Moon Sep 14-29
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 10-Sep 7
Moon Aug 10-15, Aug 31-Sep 7
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 24-Sep 14
Moon Aug 24-30, Sep 14
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 3-10
Frost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-30
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Aug 3-10
Frost Aug 24-31
Moon Aug 24-30
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 17-24
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 27-Aug 3
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
Frost Aug 10-17
Moon Aug 16-17
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 10-Sep 7
Moon Aug 16-30
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Nov 15-29
Moon Nov 28-29
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 17-31
Moon Aug 17-30
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-30
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 31-Sep 21
Moon Sep 14-21
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-30
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-30
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 21-Oct 5
Moon Sep 30-Oct 5
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 14-Oct 5
Moon Sep 14-29
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-30
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 31-Sep 14
Moon Aug 31-Sep 13
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 29 (at HELENA, AL climate station, elevation 479 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 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Oct 5
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-20
Mar 29
BasilFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Sep 21
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-20
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Apr 12
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 17-31
Moon Jan 21-31
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
N/AAug 10
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
May 10
BroccoliFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Aug 31
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Dec 20-Jan 3
Moon Dec 23-Jan 3
Frost Nov 22-Dec 6
Moon Nov 23-Dec 6
Jul 27
CabbageFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Jul 20
CantaloupesFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
Jul 27
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Mar 8-15
Aug 24
CauliflowerFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
N/AAug 24
CeleryFrost Jan 3-17
Moon Jan 3- 6
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
Frost Mar 29
Moon Mar 29
Aug 24
ChivesFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Frost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Sep 7
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Apr 19
CollardsFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Aug 24
CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Aug 17
CucumbersFrost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Aug 24
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 12
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Sep 7
EggplantsFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
N/AAug 24
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Apr 12
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-26
Moon Apr 5, Apr 20-26
Aug 24
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 17-31
Moon Jan 21-31
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Apr 12
KohlrabiFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Apr 12
LettuceFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Apr 12
OkraFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Aug 24
Onion SetsN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Mar 8-15
N/AJul 27
OreganoFrost Jan 17-Feb 14
Moon Jan 21-Feb 5
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
N/AAug 24
ParsleyFrost Jan 17-31
Moon Jan 21-31
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
Frost Feb 28-Apr 5
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7, Mar 21-Apr 5
Aug 17
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Jul 27
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Apr 12
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Mar 8-15
Aug 24
PumpkinsFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Jul 20
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Sep 7
RosemaryFrost Jan 3-17
Moon Jan 3- 6
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
N/ASep 7
SageFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
N/AAug 17
SpinachFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Apr 12
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12-18
Jul 20
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Mar 7-29
Moon Mar 7, Mar 23-29
Apr 12
ThymeFrost Jan 17-31
Moon Jan 21-31
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
N/AAug 10
TomatillosFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
N/AAug 17
TomatoesFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
N/AAug 3
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Oct 5
WatermelonsFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
Aug 3
Winter SquashFrost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Jul 13
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Mar 7-15
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Aug 31
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