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Planting Calendar for Merrick, NY

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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.

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 could 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-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, 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. 

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've 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 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.

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 5 (at WANTAGH CEDAR CREEK, NY climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 17-Oct 22
Moon Sep 17, Oct 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 13-Sep 10
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 27-Sep 17
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 6-13
Frost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 16-30
Moon Jul 16-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 6-13
Frost Aug 27-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 20-27
Moon Aug 20-27
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 30-Aug 6
Moon Aug 4-6
Frost Aug 13-20
Moon Aug 13-19
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 13-Sep 10
Moon Aug 13-19, Sep 2-10
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-19
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 19-Dec 3
Moon Nov 19-30
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 3-24
Moon Sep 3-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 3-24
Moon Sep 3-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 24-Oct 8
Moon Sep 24-Oct 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 17-Oct 8
Moon Sep 17, Oct 2-8
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 3-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 9 (at WANTAGH CEDAR CREEK, NY climate station, elevation 9 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Oct 8
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 7
Apr 9
BasilFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23
Frost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23
Sep 24
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 7
Frost Mar 12-19
Apr 23
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Feb 9-12
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
N/AAug 13
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
May 21
BroccoliFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Apr 8-9
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Sep 3
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Apr 8-9
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Jul 30
CabbageFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Apr 8-9
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Apr 16
CantaloupesFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Jul 30
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 26
Aug 27
CauliflowerFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 8-16
N/AAug 20
CeleryFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 15-25
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 9
Moon Apr 9
Aug 27
ChivesFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Sep 10
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Apr 30
CollardsFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Apr 8-9
Frost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Aug 27
CucumbersFrost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Aug 27
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-23
Moon Apr 8-23
Sep 10
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Jul 30
EggplantsFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
N/AAug 27
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Apr 23
FennelFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Aug 20
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 16-May 7
Moon Apr 16-23, May 7
Aug 27
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Aug 6
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Feb 9-12
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Apr 8-9
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Apr 23
KohlrabiFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Apr 23
LeeksFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Feb 9-12
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
N/AJul 23
LettuceFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Apr 23
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 12-25
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Frost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23
Aug 27
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 26
N/AJul 30
OreganoFrost Jan 29-Feb 26
Moon Feb 9-24
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
N/AAug 27
ParsleyFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Feb 9-12
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Mar 12-Apr 16
Moon Mar 12-25, Apr 8-16
Aug 20
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-19
Jul 30
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 30-May 14
Moon Apr 30-May 6
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Apr 23
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 26
Aug 27
PumpkinsFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Jul 23
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-19
Sep 10
RosemaryFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 15-25
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
N/ASep 10
SageFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
N/AAug 20
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 26
Jul 30
SpinachFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Apr 23
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23
Aug 20
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 24-May 6
Jul 23
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Apr 8-9
Frost Mar 19-Apr 9
Moon Mar 19-25, Apr 8-9
Apr 23
ThymeFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Feb 9-12
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
N/AAug 13
TomatillosFrost Feb 26-Mar 12
Frost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23
N/AAug 20
TomatoesFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12-24
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
N/AAug 6
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 12-19
Oct 8
WatermelonsFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Aug 6
Winter SquashFrost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Jul 16
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 19-26
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23
Sep 3
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