New York, New York · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in New York

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

October

10 vegetables to sow or plant now

7 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around March 31, and frost is unlikely after about April 9.

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

Sow or plant in New York in October

Start seeds indoors

Cabbage

Direct sow

Arugula
Fava beans
Peas
Radish
Spinach

Transplant

Cabbage
Garlic
Onion
Strawberry
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
Basil
Beets
Bell pepper
Bok choy
Broccoli
Bush beans
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Chives
Cilantro
Cucumber
Dill
Hot pepper
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Pole beans
Radish
Runner beans
Scallions
Strawberry
Sweet corn
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Winter squash
Zucchini

Coming up in November

Celeriac
Parsnip

When to plant the favourites in New York

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: July to August and November to December.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Plant: September to December.

Best time to start: September to December.

Pick: May to July.

First pick about 31 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Direct sow: March to May and September.

Best time to start: March to May and September.

Pick: 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 May and August.

Pick: June to March.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onions

Start seeds indoors: January to March and August to September.

Transplant: March to May and September to November.

Best time to start: March to May and September to November.

Pick: May to August.

First pick about 38 weeks after starting.

Strawberries

Plant: April to May and September to November.

Best time to start: April to May and September to November.

Pick: June to November.

First pick about 17 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 July.

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 August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in New York

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

Vegetable	O	N	D	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	S	P	about 7 weeks
Beets							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	T	P			T	P	P	about 13 weeks
Brussels sprouts										T	P		about 34 weeks
Bush beans							S	S	S	S	S		about 7 weeks
Cabbage	P	P			T	T	P	P		T	P	P	about 17 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		P								T			about 40 weeks
Celery					T		P						about 21 weeks
Chives	P					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 5 weeks
Eggplant						T	T	P	P	P			about 17 weeks
Fava beans	S	S											about 27 weeks
Garlic	P	P	P									P	about 31 weeks
Hot pepper						T	T	P	P	P			about 18 weeks
Kale						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	P	P		T	T	P	P	P			T	P	about 38 weeks
Parsley						T	S	S	S	T	S	S	about 8 weeks
Parsnip		S										S	about 30 weeks
Peas	S	S	S			S	S					S	about 24 weeks
Pole beans							S	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	S		about 9 weeks
Rutabaga												S	about 19 weeks
Scallions						S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Spinach	S					S	S					S	about 7 weeks
Strawberry	P	P					P	P				P	about 17 weeks
Sweet corn							T	S	S	S	S		about 9 weeks
Sweet potato									P	P			about 11 weeks
Swiss chard							S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Tomato						T	T	P	P	P			about 16 weeks
Turnip						S	S	S				S	about 7 weeks
Watermelon								T	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: celeriac, parsnip and rutabaga.

New York season by season

Spring March to May

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

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

Summer June to August

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

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

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, celeriac, cilantro, fava beans, garlic, lettuce, parsnip, peas, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, chives, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, celery, leek and onion.

Last chance for: celery, garlic and peas.

Frost in New York

Last frost, most years: around March 31
Frost is unlikely after: about April 9
First frost, most years: around November 20
Frost-free days in a year: about 234

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.

Questions about planting in New York

What can I plant now in New York?

In October, 10 vegetables can be sown or planted in New York, including arugula, cabbage, chives, fava beans, garlic, onion, peas and radish. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in New York?

In New York, 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 New York?

In New York, plant potatoes from March to May. The best time to start is from March to April. Picking runs from July to August and from November to December.

When should I plant garlic in New York?

In New York, plant garlic from September to December. The best time to start is from September to December. Picking runs from May to July.

When is the last frost in New York?

In most years the last frost in New York comes around March 31. Frost is unlikely after about April 9, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 20.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in New York?

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

What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in New York. 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).