Baltimore, Maryland · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Baltimore

This month's sowing list for Baltimore, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

5 vegetables to sow or plant now

1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 19, and frost is unlikely after about April 29.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, spinach and chives.

Sow or plant in Baltimore in October

Start seeds indoors

Nothing this month.

Direct sow

Arugula
Radish
Spinach

Transplant

Garlic
Chives

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: arugula, chives, radish and spinach.

Ready to pick in October

Arugula
Beets
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Bush beans
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Chives
Cilantro
Cucumber
Dill
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Pole beans
Radish
Runner beans
Rutabaga
Scallions
Strawberry
Sweet corn
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Winter squash
Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Baltimore

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 16 weeks after starting.

Potatoes

Plant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to April.

Pick: June to August.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Plant: September to November.

Best time to start: September to November.

Pick: May to July.

First pick about 30 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Direct sow: March to May and September.

Best time to start: March to May and September.

Pick: May to June and October to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrots

Direct sow: March to May and August to September.

Best time to start: March to April and August.

Pick: June to January.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Direct sow: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onions

Start seeds indoors: January to March.

Transplant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to May.

Pick: July to August.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Strawberries

Plant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to May.

Pick: July to November.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to June.

Direct sow: May to July.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: August to October.

First pick about 13 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: May to August.

Transplant: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Baltimore

Start seeds indoors
Direct sow
Transplant
Pick
Paler: possible, but not the best time

Vegetable	O	N	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	First pick
Arugula	S				S	S	S				S	about 5 weeks
Basil						T	S	S	S	P		about 7 weeks
Beets					S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks
Bell pepper					T	T	P	P	P			about 16 weeks
Bok choy					S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 4 weeks
Broccoli				T	P	P			T	P	P	about 13 weeks
Brussels sprouts									T	P		about 17 weeks
Bush beans							S	S	S	S		about 7 weeks
Cabbage				T	P	P	P		T	P	P	about 14 weeks
Cantaloupe							S	S	S			about 9 weeks
Carrot					S	S	S			S	S	about 8 weeks
Cauliflower									T	P	P	about 14 weeks
Celeriac			T			P						about 21 weeks
Celery			T	T		P						about 21 weeks
Chives	P			T	T	S	S	S	T	S	S	about 8 weeks
Cilantro						S					S	about 6 weeks
Cucumber						T	S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks
Dill						S	S			S	S	about 6 weeks
Eggplant					T	T	P	P	P			about 17 weeks
Fava beans				S	S	S						about 12 weeks
Garlic	P	P									P	about 30 weeks
Hot pepper					T	T	P	P	P			about 18 weeks
Kale				T	S	S	S		T	S	S	about 7 weeks
Leek			T	T	P	P						about 20 weeks
Lettuce					S	S	S				S	about 7 weeks
Okra								S	S			about 6 weeks
Onion			T	T	P	P	P					about 20 weeks
Parsley				T	T	S	S	S	T	S	S	about 8 weeks
Peas				S	S	S						about 10 weeks
Pole beans							S	S	S	S		about 8 weeks
Potato					P	P	P					about 11 weeks
Radish	S				S	S	S	S		S	S	about 3 weeks
Runner beans									S			about 9 weeks
Rutabaga					S	S				S		about 11 weeks
Scallions					S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Spinach	S			S	S	S					S	about 7 weeks
Strawberry					P	P	P					about 14 weeks
Sweet corn						T	S	S	S	P		about 9 weeks
Sweet potato								P				about 11 weeks
Swiss chard					S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Tomato					T	T	P	P	P			about 16 weeks
Turnip					S	S					S	about 7 weeks
Watermelon							P	S	S			about 10 weeks
Winter squash						T	S	S	S			about 13 weeks
Zucchini						T	S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: Brussels sprouts and celeriac.

Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: fava beans and rutabaga.

Baltimore season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, celeriac, celery, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, lettuce, pole beans, potato, radish, rutabaga, scallions, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, potato, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, dill, kale, okra, radish, runner beans, rutabaga and sweet potato.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, radish, runner beans, rutabaga, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, cilantro, garlic, lettuce, spinach and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, celeriac, celery, chives, fava beans, kale, leek, onion, parsley, peas and spinach.

Last chance for: celeriac and celery.

Frost in Baltimore

Last frost, most years: around April 19
Frost is unlikely after: about April 29
First frost, most years: around October 27
Frost-free days in a year: about 191

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Harder to grow in Baltimore

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: parsnip.

Questions about planting in Baltimore

What can I plant now in Baltimore?

In October, 5 vegetables can be sown or planted in Baltimore, including arugula, chives, garlic, radish and spinach. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Baltimore?

In Baltimore, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from May to July. The best time to start is from May to June. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Baltimore?

In Baltimore, plant potatoes from March to May. The best time to start is from March to April. Picking runs from June to August.

When should I plant garlic in Baltimore?

In Baltimore, plant garlic from September to November. The best time to start is from September to November. Picking runs from May to July.

When is the last frost in Baltimore?

In most years the last frost in Baltimore comes around April 19. Frost is unlikely after about April 29, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 27.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Baltimore?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), Swiss chard (about 5 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks) and cucumber (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Baltimore. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).