There is no single planting calendar that works everywhere. This month-by-month guide uses Minnesota and Upper Midwest timing as a regional example: plan around your local frost dates, soil temperature, crop maturity and current forecast, then adjust for your property. A warm spell alone does not mean the garden is ready.
How to use this planting calendar
Month names are a starting point, not a planting signal. In Minnesota, average last-frost timing ranges from early May in the south to late May or early June in the north, according to University of Minnesota Extension’s April 14, 2026 timing guide. Your elevation, microclimate, soil and year-to-year weather can shift the practical window.
- Check the local forecast and frost risk before sowing or transplanting.
- Measure soil temperature for the crop you plan to grow. Extension recommends measuring about four inches deep; a soil thermometer makes that check possible.
- Check seed-packet or crop-specific directions for starting method and days to maturity.
- Work soil only when it crumbles into small clumps rather than sticking to shoes or tools. A soil test can indicate whether lime or specific nutrients are needed.
University of Minnesota Extension describes soil temperature as the best indicator for when to plant in its vegetable garden planting guidance. Robin Trott, an Extension educator, likewise writes that planting based on soil temperature, air temperature and crop type is more reliable than following the calendar alone in Minnesota’s variable spring conditions.
What to plant each month in the Upper Midwest
These are regional planning windows, not guaranteed dates or a complete crop-by-crop list. The University of Minnesota Extension Upper Midwest home garden care schedule notes that conditions vary by individual property.
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| Month | Planning focus | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| January | Review notes from last season and browse seed catalogs. Choose varieties suited to your location and season length. | Only plan winter indoor starts for crops whose instructions call for them; many vegetables do not need to be started this early. |
| February | Finalize varieties and check crop-specific indoor-starting windows. Some flowers need an early start; vegetable timing varies. | Follow seed-packet directions rather than assuming all crops should be started indoors. |
| March | Prepare for spring and begin indoor starts of summer vegetables when their crop-specific windows open. | The regional care schedule places indoor sowing of summer vegetables from mid-March through early May, depending on crop. |
| April | As soon as soil is workable, sow or transplant suitable cool-season crops, including brassicas, spinach and cold-tolerant lettuce. | Check soil temperature and local conditions. Do not work soil while it is wet and sticky. |
| May | Add moderately cold-tolerant crops as conditions allow. Prepare to transition to warm-season crops when frost risk and soil needs permit. | Some regional warm-season planting falls in mid-to-late May or the first week of June; timing differs across Minnesota. |
| June | Plant heat-loving crops once local frost danger has passed and their soil-temperature needs are met. Continue summer sowings where the season allows. | Northern Minnesota generally reaches these conditions later than southern Minnesota. Check crop instructions and forecast. |
| July | Begin fall-garden sowings. Minnesota examples for mid-July include carrots, beets and broccoli. | Count backward from your local first-frost date, allowing for the crop’s days to maturity and any additional time it needs to size up. |
| August | Sow selected quick-maturing or cool-season fall crops. The regional schedule names spinach and lettuce around mid-August. | Confirm that the variety can mature before frost in your location; not every crop or garden has enough remaining season. |
| September | Harvest maturing crops, monitor frost forecasts and consider cover crops where appropriate. | Frost tolerance varies. Kale and other cabbage-family crops can continue in cool weather, while tender crops such as basil and beans are killed by frost. |
| October | Continue harvest and monitor local frost conditions. Minnesota growers can consult regional guidance for fall garlic planting windows. | Exact garlic timing depends on local conditions; use region-specific advice rather than treating one date as universal. |
| November | Record what succeeded, what struggled and when key crops were planted and harvested. | This is planning guidance, not a general outdoor planting recommendation. |
| December | Use garden records to begin next year’s variety and timing plan. | The cited regional sources do not establish a universal outdoor crop schedule for this month. |
Choose planting time by crop, not just by month
Cool-season crops
Peas, spinach, lettuce and radishes can be direct-seeded when soil is around 40–50°F, according to University of Minnesota Extension. Other early cool-season crops named in its guidance include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and onions; sow or transplant them once the plot is prepared and crop-specific conditions are suitable. These crops need time to mature before hot weather. Sowing too late can contribute to bolting or poor quality.
Warm-season crops
Wait until frost danger has passed before transplanting tender crops such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, summer squash and basil. University of Minnesota Extension’s planting page lists 50–60°F soil for warm-season crops, while its 2026 timing guide says heat-loving crops generally do best at 65°F or warmer. These are source-specific recommendations, not one threshold for every crop; use the crop’s instructions and measure the soil before planting.
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Fall crops
For a fall harvest, work backward from your area’s average first-frost date. Allow for the variety’s days to maturity and consider how much time it needs to reach a harvestable size. The Minnesota Extension guide to planting vegetables in midsummer for fall harvest provides maturity and cold-hardiness examples. Those examples are Minnesota-oriented; local frost timing and growing conditions elsewhere can differ.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Direct sowing, indoor starts and repeat sowings
Some crops are sown directly in the garden, while others benefit from indoor starts; the right method and timing vary by crop. Use the seed packet or catalog instructions, along with University of Minnesota Extension’s seed-starting guidance, to set indoor sowing dates and transplant timing.
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For crops suited to repeat planting, sow smaller amounts at intervals rather than planting the entire supply at once. This can spread harvests and help manage the risk of a single sowing being lost or maturing all at once. Intervals and maturity periods are crop-specific; the University of Minnesota Extension crop and field planning tools provide Minnesota-oriented planning and succession information, although they are intended for professional as well as crop-planning use.
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Before you plant
- Check soil workability: wait until soil crumbles into small clumps instead of sticking to footwear or tools.
- Measure temperature: use a soil thermometer at about four inches deep, then compare the result with guidance for the specific crop.
- Check frost risk: use local frost dates as a planning baseline and watch the current forecast, especially before transplanting tender crops.
- Plan the season: confirm days to maturity and whether direct sowing or an indoor start is appropriate.
- Test before amending: a soil test can show whether lime or particular nutrients are needed; avoid guessing at amendments.
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