Zone 2a planting calendar
Far-northern climate; only the toughest, quickest crops finish without protection.
Coldest temps-50 to -45°F
Avg. last spring frostJun 5
Avg. first fall frostAug 25
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 2a →
The growing season in Zone 2a
Zone 2a has a coldest-winter range of -50 to -45°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 81 days — from the last spring frost around Jun 5 to the first fall frost around Aug 25. That is a short season — lean on cold-hardy crops and quick-maturing varieties, and give tender, long-season crops a generous indoor head start so they can finish in time.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after Jun 5, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 81-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 2a
Every crop below is timed to Zone 2a's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Apr 3–Apr 17 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jun 26 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 14 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors May 15–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 16–Jun 30 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jul 3 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors May 15–May 22 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 26 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Apr 24–May 22 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 21 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 2–Jun 30 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Apr 24–May 15 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors May 15–Jun 12 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors May 19–Jun 9 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors May 29–Jun 12 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors May 8–May 22 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Jul 28–Aug 11 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 16–Jun 30 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 28 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 26 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jun 26 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 26 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 26 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 28 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors May 8–May 22 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 14 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 14 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Direct sow outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors May 29–Jun 12 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 2–Jun 30 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 21 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors May 15–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 21 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 16–Jun 30 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jul 3 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors May 8–May 22 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 14 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jul 3 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors May 8–May 22 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jun 26 Direct sow outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jun 26 Direct sow outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors May 8–May 22 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Apr 24–May 15 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 24–May 15 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 26 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Apr 24–May 15 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors May 8–May 22 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 14 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Apr 24–May 22 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors May 8–May 29 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 14 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Apr 24–May 8 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |