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

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Planting Calendar for Wheaton, IL

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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 11 (at LISLE-MORTON ARBORETUM, IL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 23-Sep 27
Moon Aug 23-30, Sep 14-27
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 19-Aug 16
Moon Aug 2-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 2-23
Moon Aug 16-23
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 12-19
Moon Jul 17-19
Frost Aug 2-16
Moon Aug 16
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Jul 12-19
Moon Jul 17-19
Frost Aug 2- 9
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 26-Aug 2
Moon Aug 2
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 5-12
Frost Jul 19-26
Moon Jul 19-26
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 19-Aug 16
Moon Jul 19-Aug 1, Aug 16
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Oct 25-Nov 7
Moon Oct 29-Nov 7
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 26-Aug 9
Moon Jul 26-Aug 1
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 2-16
Moon Aug 16
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 9-30
Moon Aug 16-30
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 2-16
Moon Aug 16
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Aug 2-16
Moon Aug 16
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 30-Sep 13
Moon Aug 31-Sep 13
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 23-Sep 13
Moon Aug 23-30
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 2-16
Moon Aug 16
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 9-23
Moon Aug 9-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 4 (at LISLE-MORTON ARBORETUM, IL climate station, elevation 679 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 19-27
Frost Apr 6-13
Sep 13
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
May 4
BasilFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 19-Jun 1
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 19-Jun 1
Aug 30
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-13
May 18
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 22-Mar 7
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
N/AJul 19
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Jun 15
BroccoliFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-May 4
Frost Apr 6-13
Aug 9
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25-Feb 5
Frost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Dec 28-Jan 6
Jul 5
CabbageFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-May 4
Frost Apr 6-13
Jun 28
CantaloupesFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 19-27
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4- 5
Frost May 11-18
Jul 5
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-18
Aug 2
CauliflowerFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 5
N/AAug 2
CeleryFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 20-22
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 4
Moon May 4
Aug 2
ChivesFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Aug 16
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 4- 5
May 25
CollardsFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-May 4
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Aug 2
CornN/AN/AFrost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 19-Jun 1
Jul 26
CucumbersFrost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Aug 2
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 18
Moon Apr 27-May 5
Aug 16
EggplantsFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
N/AAug 2
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Apr 6-13
May 18
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 11-Jun 1
Moon May 19-Jun 1
Aug 2
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 22-Mar 7
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-May 4
Frost Apr 6-13
May 18
KohlrabiFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost Apr 6-13
May 18
LettuceFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost Apr 6-13
May 18
OkraFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 19-Jun 1
Aug 2
Onion SetsN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-18
N/AJul 5
OreganoFrost Feb 22-Mar 23
Moon Feb 22-Mar 7, Mar 21-23
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 19-25
N/AAug 2
ParsleyFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 22-Mar 7
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost Apr 6-May 11
Moon Apr 19-May 5
Jul 26
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-13
Jul 5
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-13
May 18
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-18
Aug 2
PumpkinsFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 19-27
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Jun 28
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-13
Aug 16
RosemaryFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 20-22
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
N/AAug 16
SageFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 19-25
N/AJul 26
SpinachFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost Apr 6-13
May 18
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 18
Jun 28
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-May 4
Frost Apr 13-May 4
Moon Apr 19-May 4
May 18
ThymeFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 22-Mar 7
Frost May 11-18
N/AJul 19
TomatillosFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-Apr 5
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 19-Jun 1
N/AJul 26
TomatoesFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 21-23
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
N/AJul 12
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-13
Sep 13
WatermelonsFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 19-27
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 11-18
Jul 12
Winter SquashFrost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Jun 21
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 19-20
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 19-25
Frost May 18-25
Moon May 19-25
Aug 9
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