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

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Planting Calendar for Kokomo, IN

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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 12 (at KOKOMO 3 WSW, IN climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 24-Sep 28
Moon Aug 24-30, Sep 14-28
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 20-Aug 17
Moon Aug 2-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 3-24
Moon Aug 16-24
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 13-20
Moon Jul 17-20
Frost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 16-17
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Jul 13-20
Moon Jul 17-20
Frost Aug 3-10
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 27-Aug 3
Moon Aug 2- 3
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 6-13
Frost Jul 20-27
Moon Jul 20-27
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 20-Aug 17
Moon Jul 20-Aug 1, Aug 16-17
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Oct 26-Nov 8
Moon Oct 29-Nov 8
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 16-17
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 10-31
Moon Aug 16-30
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 16-17
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 16-17
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 31-Sep 14
Moon Aug 31-Sep 13
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 24-Sep 14
Moon Aug 24-30, Sep 14
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 16-17
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 10-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 3 (at KOKOMO 3 WSW, IN climate station, elevation 823 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 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
Sep 14
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 19-May 3
May 3
BasilFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 19-31
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 19-31
Aug 31
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 19-May 3
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 6-12
May 17
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-Mar 7
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
N/AJul 20
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Jun 14
BroccoliFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-May 3
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
Aug 10
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 24-Feb 5
Frost Dec 27-Jan 10
Moon Dec 27-Jan 6
Jul 6
CabbageFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-May 3
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
Jun 29
CantaloupesFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3- 5
Frost May 10-17
Jul 6
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 6-18
Aug 3
CauliflowerFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 26-May 5
N/AAug 3
CeleryFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 20-21
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 3
Moon May 3
Aug 3
ChivesFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Aug 17
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 3-17
Moon May 3- 5
May 24
CollardsFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-May 3
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Aug 3
CornN/AN/AFrost May 17-31
Moon May 19-31
Jul 27
CucumbersFrost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Aug 3
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 17
Moon Apr 26-May 5
Aug 17
EggplantsFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
N/AAug 3
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
May 17
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 10-31
Moon May 19-31
Aug 3
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-Mar 7
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-May 3
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
May 17
KohlrabiFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
May 17
LettuceFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
May 17
OkraFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 19-31
Aug 3
Onion SetsN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 6-18
N/AJul 6
OreganoFrost Feb 21-Mar 22
Moon Feb 21-Mar 7, Mar 21-22
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
N/AAug 3
ParsleyFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-Mar 7
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost Apr 5-May 10
Moon Apr 5, Apr 20-May 5
Jul 27
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 6-12
Jul 6
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
May 17
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 6-18
Aug 3
PumpkinsFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Jun 29
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 6-12
Aug 17
RosemaryFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 20-21
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
N/AAug 17
SageFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
N/AJul 27
SpinachFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5
May 17
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 17-31
Moon May 17-18
Jun 29
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 19-May 3
Frost Apr 12-May 3
Moon Apr 19-May 3
May 17
ThymeFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-Mar 7
Frost May 10-17
N/AJul 20
TomatillosFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-Apr 5
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 19-31
N/AJul 27
TomatoesFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
N/AJul 13
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 6-12
Sep 14
WatermelonsFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 10-17
Jul 13
Winter SquashFrost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Jun 22
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Apr 12-19
Moon Apr 19
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 17-24
Moon May 19-24
Aug 10
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