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

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Planting Calendar for Lancaster, NH

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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 September 25 (at LANCASTER, NH climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 7-Sep 11
Moon Aug 16-30
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 3-31
Moon Jul 4-16
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 17-Aug 7
Moon Jul 17-Aug 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jun 26-Jul 3
Moon Jun 26-Jul 3
Frost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 17-31
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Jun 26-Jul 3
Moon Jun 26-Jul 3
Frost Jul 17-24
Moon Jul 17-24
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 10-17
Moon Jul 10-16
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 19-26
Moon Jun 19-26
Frost Jul 3-10
Moon Jul 3
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 3-31
Moon Jul 3, Jul 18-31
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Oct 9-23
Moon Oct 9-13
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 10-24
Moon Jul 17-24
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 17-31
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Jul 24-Aug 14
Moon Jul 24-Aug 1
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 17-31
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 17-31
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 14-28
Moon Aug 14-15
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 7-28
Moon Aug 16-28
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 17-31
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Jul 24-Aug 7
Moon Aug 2- 7
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 24 (at LANCASTER, NH climate station, elevation 859 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 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3- 5
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Aug 28
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost May 10-24
Moon May 10-18
May 24
BasilFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost Jun 7-21
Moon Jun 17-21
Frost Jun 7-21
Moon Jun 17-21
Aug 14
BeetsN/AFrost May 10-24
Moon May 10-18
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Jun 7
Bell PeppersFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Jun 7-14
N/AJul 3
Bok ChoyFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost Jun 7-14
Frost Jun 7-14
Jul 5
BroccoliFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jul 24
Brussels SproutsFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 20-28
Frost Jan 17-31
Moon Jan 21-31
Jun 19
CabbageFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jun 12
CantaloupesFrost May 3-17
Moon May 3- 5
Frost May 24-Jun 7
Moon May 24-Jun 3
Frost May 31-Jun 7
Moon May 31-Jun 3
Jun 19
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 10
Moon May 6-10
Jul 17
CauliflowerFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 17-31
Moon May 19-31
N/AJul 17
CeleryFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost May 31-Jun 14
Moon May 31-Jun 3
Frost May 24
Moon May 24
Jul 17
ChivesFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Jul 31
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 24-Jun 7
Moon May 24-Jun 3
Jun 14
CollardsFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Jul 17
CornN/AN/AFrost Jun 7-21
Moon Jun 17-21
Jul 10
CucumbersFrost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Frost May 31-Jun 14
Moon May 31-Jun 3
Frost Jun 7-14
Jul 17
DillN/AN/AFrost May 17-Jun 7
Moon May 19-Jun 3
Jul 31
EggplantsFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Jun 7-14
N/AJul 17
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jun 7
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 31-Jun 21
Moon May 31-Jun 3, Jun 17-21
Jul 17
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Jun 7-14
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jun 7
KohlrabiFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jun 7
LettuceFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jun 7
OkraFrost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 26-May 5
Frost Jun 7-14
Frost Jun 7-21
Moon Jun 17-21
Jul 17
Onion SetsN/AFrost Apr 26-May 10
Moon May 6-10
N/AJun 19
OreganoFrost Mar 15-Apr 12
Moon Mar 21-Apr 5
Frost May 31-Jun 14
Moon May 31-Jun 3
N/AJul 17
ParsleyFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost May 31-Jun 14
Moon May 31-Jun 3
Frost Apr 26-May 31
Moon Apr 26-May 5, May 19-31
Jul 10
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 3
Jun 19
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jun 7
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 10
Moon May 6-10
Jul 17
PumpkinsFrost May 3-17
Moon May 3- 5
Frost Jun 7-14
Frost Jun 7-14
Jun 12
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 3
Jul 31
RosemaryFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Jun 7-14
N/AJul 31
SageFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 31-Jun 14
Moon May 31-Jun 3
N/AJul 10
SpinachFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 26-May 3
Jun 7
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Jun 7-21
Moon Jun 7-16
Jun 12
Swiss ChardFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 19-24
Frost May 3-24
Moon May 3- 5, May 19-24
Jun 7
ThymeFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost May 31-Jun 7
Moon May 31-Jun 3
N/AJul 3
TomatillosFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 19-26
Frost Jun 7-21
Moon Jun 17-21
N/AJul 10
TomatoesFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Jun 7-14
N/AJun 26
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 3
Aug 28
WatermelonsFrost May 3-17
Moon May 3- 5
Frost Jun 7-14
Frost May 31-Jun 7
Moon May 31-Jun 3
Jun 26
Winter SquashFrost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Frost May 31-Jun 14
Moon May 31-Jun 3
Frost Jun 7-14
Jun 5
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost May 3-10
Moon May 3- 5
Frost May 31-Jun 14
Moon May 31-Jun 3
Frost Jun 7-14
Jul 24
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