Planting Calendar For Columbus, OH

Planting Calendar Columbus, OH

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Columbus, OH

See Your Almanac Planting Calendar for 2026

The 2026 gardening calendar shows spring and fall planting dates for vegetables, fruits, and herbs, customized for your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the earliest dates you can plant, based on your area’s last spring frost. If you’ve missed the first window, don’t worry! We also provide “last planting dates” to help new gardeners see how late they can plant and still enjoy a harvest.

Fall Planting Calendar

Our fall planting calendar focuses on planting in late summer for a fall harvest—think of it as a second summer! Keeping crops going is easy if your soil is already prepared.

Tip: Use frost-based dates for standard planting; moon-based dates are for gardeners who follow planting by the Moon.

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 27 (at COLUMBUS WCMH, OH climate station, elevation 741 feet).

Crop	Based on Frost Dates Based on Moon Dates
	Start Seeds Indoors	Plant Seedlingsor Transplants	Start Seeds Outdoors	Last Date to Plant
Anise Hyssop	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Apr 27-May 25 Apr 27-May 1, May 16-25	N/A
Arugula	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Apr 6-20 Apr 17-20	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	Sep 22
Asparagus	N/A	Apr 6-13 Apr 6-13	N/A	Apr 27
Basil	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	May 11-25 May 16-25	May 11-25 May 16-25	Sep 8
Beets	N/A	Apr 27	Mar 30-Apr 13 Apr 2-13	May 11
Bell Peppers	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	May 11-18 May 16-18	N/A	Jul 28
Bok Choy	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	May 11-18 May 16-18	May 11-18 May 16-18	Jun 8
Borage	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	May 4-11	May 4-11
Broccoli	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	Apr 13-27 Apr 17-27	N/A	Aug 18
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	Apr 13-27 Apr 17-27	N/A	Jul 14
Cabbage	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Apr 6-13	N/A	May 4
Cannabis	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	May 4-18 May 16-18	May 4-18 May 16-18
Cantaloupes	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	May 11-18 May 16-18	May 11-18 May 16-18	Jul 14
Carrots	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 13 Apr 2-13	Aug 11
Cauliflower	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	Apr 20-May 4 Apr 20-May 1	N/A	Aug 4
Celery	Feb 1-15 Feb 1	May 4-18 May 16-18	Apr 27 Apr 27	Aug 11
Chamomile	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 4-11	May 4-18 May 16-18
Chervil	N/A	N/A	Apr 6-13
Chives	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Apr 6-13	Apr 6-13	Aug 25
Cilantro (Coriander)	N/A	N/A	Apr 27-May 11 Apr 27-May 1	May 18
Collards	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	N/A	Aug 11
Comfrey	Feb 1-15 Feb 1	May 4-18 May 16-18	N/A
Cucumbers	Apr 6-13	May 4-18 May 16-18	May 11-18 May 16-18	Aug 11
Dill	N/A	N/A	Apr 20-May 11 Apr 20-May 1	Aug 25
Dry Beans	N/A	N/A	May 11-18 May 16-18	Jul 14
Eggplants	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 11-18 May 16-18	N/A	Aug 11
Fava Beans	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	May 11
Fennel	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	May 4-11	Apr 27-May 11 Apr 27-May 1	Aug 4
Garlic	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ginger	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	May 11-25 May 16-25	May 11-25 May 16-25
Green Beans	N/A	N/A	May 4-25 May 16-25	Aug 11
Honeydew Melons	Apr 6-13	May 11-18 May 16-18	May 11-18 May 16-18	Jul 21
Jalapeño Peppers	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	May 11-18 May 16-18	N/A
Kale	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Apr 13-27 Apr 17-27	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	May 11
Kohlrabi	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Mar 30-Apr 13 Mar 30-Apr 1	N/A	May 11
Lavender	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	May 11-25 May 16-25	N/A
Leeks	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	Apr 6-20 Apr 17-20	N/A	Jul 7
Lemon Balm	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 4-11	May 4-11
Lemon Verbena	N/A	May 11-25 May 16-25	N/A
Lettuce	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	Mar 30-Apr 13 Mar 30-Apr 1	May 11
Marjoram	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 4-11	N/A
Mint	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	May 4-11	May 4-11
Mustard Greens	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	Apr 6-13	Apr 6-13
Okra	Mar 30-Apr 13 Mar 30-Apr 1	May 11-18 May 16-18	May 11-25 May 16-25	Aug 11
Onions	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 15-16	Mar 30-Apr 13 Apr 2-13	Mar 30-Apr 13 Apr 2-13	Jul 14
Oregano	Feb 15-Mar 16 Feb 17-Mar 3	May 4-18 May 16-18	N/A	Aug 11
Parsley	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	May 4-18 May 16-18	Mar 30-May 4 Mar 30-Apr 1, Apr 17-May 1	Aug 4
Parsnips	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 6 Apr 2-6	Jul 14
Peanuts	N/A	N/A	May 18-Jun 1 Jun 1
Peas	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	May 11
Potatoes	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 13 Apr 2-13	Aug 11
Pumpkins	Apr 6-20 Apr 17-20	May 11-18 May 16-18	May 11-18 May 16-18	Jul 7
Radishes	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 6 Apr 2-6	Aug 25
Rosemary	Feb 1-15 Feb 1	May 11-18 May 16-18	N/A	Aug 25
Sage	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 4-18 May 16-18	N/A	Aug 4
Salad Burnet	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 4-11	Apr 27-May 25 Apr 27-May 1, May 16-25
Salsify	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 13 Apr 2-13	Jul 14
Savory	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 4-11	N/A
Spinach	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	Apr 6-13	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	May 11
Sweet Corn	N/A	N/A	May 11-25 May 16-25	Aug 4
Sweet Potatoes	N/A	May 18-25	N/A	Jul 7
Swiss Chard	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	Apr 13-27 Apr 17-27	Apr 6-27 Apr 17-27	May 11
Tarragon	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 4-11	N/A
Thyme	Feb 15-Mar 1 Feb 17-Mar 1	May 4-11	N/A	Jul 28
Tomatillos	Mar 16-30 Mar 18-30	May 11-25 May 16-25	N/A	Aug 4
Tomatoes	Mar 1-16 Mar 1-3	May 11-18 May 16-18	N/A	Jul 21
Turmeric	Mar 1-30 Mar 1-3, Mar 18-30	May 11-25 May 16-25	May 11-25 May 16-25
Turnips	N/A	N/A	Mar 30-Apr 6 Apr 2-6	Sep 22
Watercress	Mar 30-Apr 6 Mar 30-Apr 1	May 4-11	Apr 27-May 11 Apr 27-May 1
Watermelons	Apr 6-20 Apr 17-20	May 11-18 May 16-18	May 4-11	Jul 21
Winter Squash	Apr 6-13	May 4-18 May 16-18	May 11-18 May 16-18	Jun 30
Zucchini (Summer Squash)	Apr 6-13	May 4-18 May 16-18	May 11-18 May 16-18	Aug 18

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 20 (at COLUMBUS WCMH, OH climate station).

Crop	Based on Frost Dates Based on Moon Dates
	Start Seeds Outdoors	Transplant	Average Days to Maturity	Frost Tolerance
Arugula	Sep 1-Oct 6 Sep 10-26	N/A	40	Frost-hardy
Beets	Jul 28-Aug 25 Jul 30-Aug 11	N/A	50	Frost-tolerant
Bok Choy	Aug 11-Sep 1 Aug 12-27	N/A	50	Frost-tolerant
Broccoli	Jul 21-28 Jul 21-28	Aug 11-25 Aug 12-25	60	Frost-tolerant
Brussels Sprouts	Jun 30-Jul 14 Jul 14	N/A	100	Frost-hardy
Cabbage	N/A	Jul 28-Aug 11 Jul 28-29	90	Frost-tolerant
Carrots	Aug 4-11 Aug 4-11	N/A	70	Frost-tolerant
Cauliflower	Jul 14-21 Jul 14-21	Jul 28-Aug 4 Jul 28-29	75	Frost-tolerant
Chives	Jul 28-Aug 25 Jul 28-29, Aug 12-25	N/A	70	Frost-tolerant
Collards	Jul 14-28 Jul 14-28	Aug 25-Sep 8 Aug 25-27	75	Frost-hardy
Fennel	Jul 21-Aug 4 Jul 21-29	N/A	80	Tender
Garlic	Nov 2-16 Nov 2-8	N/A	120	Frost-hardy
Green Beans	Aug 4-18 Aug 12-18	N/A	55	Tender
Kale	Aug 11-25 Aug 12-25	N/A	60	Frost-hardy
Kohlrabi	Aug 25-11 Aug 25-27	Sep 15-1 Sep 15-26	45	Frost-tolerant
Lettuce	Aug 25-Sep 8 Aug 25-27	N/A	60	Frost-tolerant
Mustard Greens	Aug 18-Sep 8 Aug 18-27	N/A	45	Tender
Peas	Aug 11-25 Aug 12-25	N/A	55	Tender
Radishes	Sep 8-22 Sep 8-9	N/A	25	Frost-tolerant
Spinach	Sep 1-22 Sep 10-22	N/A	30	Frost-hardy
Swiss Chard	Aug 11-25 Aug 12-25	N/A	60	Frost-tolerant
Turnips	Aug 18-Sep 1 Aug 28-Sep 1	N/A	50	Frost-tolerant

Understanding the Chart

The charts include several columns to guide your planting:

• Plant names are linked: Click any crop to view its Growing Guide for detailed advice on planting, care, and harvest.

• Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds inside for an early start.

• Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to transplant seedlings or starter plants from a nursery.

• Start Seeds Outdoors: When to sow seeds directly in your garden soil.

• Last Date to Plant: The final date to plant so crops have time to mature before frost.

• Moon Dates: Best planting days based on lunar phases—an age-old gardening tradition.

• N/A: Indicates a planting method that is generally not recommended but may still be possible.

Use the icon below to get the best printable or email-friendly version of the calendar.

Planting Guidance

• Many quick-maturing crops, such as radishes, can be planted successively throughout the summer in northern regions. However, some cool-season crops—such as kale and lettuce—may bolt in hot temperatures. Gardeners in warmer regions may need a short summer break, resuming planting once the heat passes.
• Many crops that are typically started indoors for spring can be planted directly in the soil for fall. Warm soil, fewer pests, and seasonal rainfall make it easier to grow. Some crops must be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste sweeter after a light frost.
• The dates are calculated relative to frost, giving each user a unique calendar. That’s why some crops, especially similar varieties like kale and lettuce, or seedlings such as broccoli and cabbage, may share the same dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Accurate Are the Planting Dates?

Use this chart as a planning guide and starting point. The frost dates are averages based on historical data—they are not predictions for the coming year. While most gardeners rely on frost dates to plan planting, some locations in the U.S. may not experience frost, and certain areas may not match these dates perfectly.

Local microclimates—such as low spots, slopes, or sheltered areas—can also affect your planting schedule. Watch the weather, talk with fellow gardeners, and take notes on what works best in your garden.

Why Do You Start Seeds Indoors?

Starting seeds indoors gives crops a head start on the growing season, which is crucial in regions with shorter seasons. Indoors, young plants grow in a stable, controlled environment, protected from unpredictable rain, drought, frost, temperature swings, pests, and diseases.

For most crops, seeds should be started 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost. This ensures plants grow large and healthy enough to survive transplanting outdoors. Read more about starting seeds indoors here.

Which Seeds Should Be Started Indoors?

Not all vegetables benefit from indoor starting. Most are better off direct-sown in the garden.

• Seeds that should be started indoors are typically:
• Tender vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
• Long-season crops: broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts

Crops like carrots, radishes, beets, squash, and watermelon are best sown directly in the garden, as they do not tolerate root disturbance and need warm soil to thrive. Read more about direct-sowing seeds here!

When Should You Transplant Seedlings?

Transplant seedlings when they outgrow their trays or starter pots.

• If outdoor conditions aren’t ready, move seedlings to larger pots indoors.
• Begin hardening off approximately one week before the last frost date to gradually acclimate plants to outdoor conditions.
• Then transplant them into the garden. Get more tips for transplanting seedlings.

What Is Planting by the Moon?

Planting by the Moon (or “Gardening by the Moon”) is a traditional method for timing crop planting based on lunar phases:

• Above-ground crops: Plant annual flowers and vegetables during the Waxing Moon (new to full).
• Below-ground crops: Plant bulbs, biennials, perennials, and root vegetables during the Waning Moon (full to new).

Gardeners report larger, tastier harvests using this method. Our planting calendar includes Moon dates to help you plan. Learn more about Planting and Gardening by the Moon.