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Planting Calendar for Haymarket, VA

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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 Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 17 (at MANASSAS, VA climate station, elevation 246 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 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Frost Mar 20-27
Sep 24
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 13-17
Apr 17
BasilFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost May 1-15
Moon May 1-12
Frost May 1-15
Moon May 1-12
Sep 10
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 13-17
Frost Mar 20-27
Moon Mar 20-27
May 1
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
N/AJul 30
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
May 29
BroccoliFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Mar 20-27
Aug 20
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Mar 20-27
Jul 16
CabbageFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Mar 20-27
Apr 24
CantaloupesFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Frost Apr 24-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Jul 16
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20-28
Aug 13
CauliflowerFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
N/AAug 6
CeleryFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 27-May 8
Frost Apr 17
Aug 13
ChivesFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Aug 27
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
May 8
CollardsFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Aug 13
CucumbersFrost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 27-May 8
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Aug 13
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-May 1
Moon Apr 10-12, Apr 27-May 1
Aug 27
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Jul 16
EggplantsFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
N/AAug 13
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-27
May 1
FennelFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 24-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Aug 6
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 24-May 15
Moon Apr 27-May 12
Aug 13
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Jul 23
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Mar 20-27
May 1
KohlrabiFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 20-27
May 1
LeeksFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
N/AJul 9
LettuceFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 20-27
May 1
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Frost May 1-15
Moon May 1-12
Aug 13
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20-28
N/AJul 16
OreganoFrost Feb 5-Mar 5
Moon Feb 5-12, Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 27-May 8
N/AAug 13
ParsleyFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 27-May 8
Frost Mar 20-Apr 24
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Aug 6
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-27
Moon Mar 20-27
Jul 16
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 8-22
Moon May 13-22
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-27
May 1
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20-28
Aug 13
PumpkinsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Jul 9
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-27
Moon Mar 20-27
Aug 27
RosemaryFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
N/AAug 27
SageFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 27-May 8
N/AAug 6
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20-28
Jul 16
SpinachFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 20-27
May 1
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 1-15
Moon May 1-12
Aug 6
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 1-15
Moon May 13-15
Jul 9
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Mar 27-Apr 17
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
May 1
ThymeFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Apr 24-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
N/AJul 30
TomatillosFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost May 1-15
Moon May 1-12
N/AAug 6
TomatoesFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
N/AJul 23
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-27
Moon Mar 20-27
Sep 24
WatermelonsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Frost Apr 24-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Jul 23
Winter SquashFrost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 27-May 8
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Jul 2
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 27-May 8
Frost May 1-8
Moon May 1-8
Aug 20

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 22 (at MANASSAS, VA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 3-Oct 8
Moon Sep 3-7, Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 30-Aug 27
Moon Aug 10-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 13-Sep 3
Moon Aug 23-Sep 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 23-30
Moon Jul 24-30
Frost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 23-27
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 2-16
Moon Jul 2-10
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 23-30
Moon Jul 24-30
Frost Aug 13-20
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 10-13
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 16-23
Frost Jul 30-Aug 6
Moon Jul 30-Aug 6
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 30-Aug 27
Moon Jul 30-Aug 9, Aug 23-27
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 23-Aug 6
Moon Jul 24-Aug 6
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 4-18
Moon Nov 6-18
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-9
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 23-27
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 20-Sep 10
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 23-27
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 20-Sep 10
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 23-27
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 10-24
Moon Sep 10-20
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 3-24
Moon Sep 3-7, Sep 21-24
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 23-27
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Aug 20-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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