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St. Louis, Missouri · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in St. Louis

This month's sowing list for St. Louis, 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 13, and frost is unlikely after about April 19.

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

Sow or plant in St. Louis 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
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli
  • Bush beans
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Hot pepper
  • 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 St. Louis

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to June.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to April.

Best time to start: March.

Pick: June to July.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: September to November.

Best time to start: September to November.

Pick: May to July.

First pick about 30 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: March to April and September.

Best time to start: March to April and September.

Pick: May to June and October to December.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: March to April and August to September.

Best time to start: March to April and August.

Pick: June and October to January.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: January to March.

Transplant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to May.

Pick: June to August.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to April.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to June.

Direct sow: April to July.

Transplant: April to July.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: April to August.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in St. Louis

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BasilTSSSSabout 6 weeks
BeetsSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Bell pepperTTPPPabout 15 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BroccoliTPTPabout 13 weeks
Brussels sproutsTPabout 18 weeks
Bush beansSSSSSabout 7 weeks
CabbageTPPTPabout 15 weeks
CantaloupeTSSSabout 9 weeks
CarrotSSSSabout 8 weeks
CauliflowerTPabout 15 weeks
CeleryTPPabout 19 weeks
ChivesPTSSSPTTSabout 8 weeks
CilantroSSSabout 6 weeks
CucumberTSSSSabout 6 weeks
DillSSSabout 6 weeks
EggplantTTPPPabout 16 weeks
Fava beansSabout 13 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 30 weeks
Hot pepperTTPPPabout 17 weeks
KaleTSSPTSabout 7 weeks
LeekTPabout 21 weeks
LettuceSSSabout 7 weeks
OkraSSSabout 6 weeks
OnionTTPPPabout 20 weeks
ParsleyTSSSTTSabout 8 weeks
PeasSabout 10 weeks
Pole beansSSSSSabout 8 weeks
PotatoPPabout 11 weeks
RadishSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSabout 9 weeks
RutabagaSabout 12 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
SpinachSSSabout 7 weeks
StrawberryPPPabout 14 weeks
Sweet cornSSSSPabout 8 weeks
Sweet potatoPPabout 11 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
TomatoTPPPPPabout 15 weeks
TurnipSSSabout 7 weeks
WatermelonTSSSabout 9 weeks
Winter squashSSSSabout 12 weeks
ZucchiniSSSSSabout 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 celery.

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

St. Louis season by season

Spring March to May

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

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

Summer June to August

Time to start: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, kale, parsley, runner beans and rutabaga.

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

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, cauliflower, cilantro, dill, garlic, lettuce, radish, 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, celery, chives, kale, leek, onion and parsley.

Last chance for: celery and leek.

Frost in St. Louis

Last frost, most years
around April 13
Frost is unlikely after
about April 19
First frost, most years
around October 29
Frost-free days in a year
about 199

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 St. Louis

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

Too cold here: parsnip.

Questions about planting in St. Louis

What can I plant now in St. Louis?

In October, 5 vegetables can be sown or planted in St. Louis, 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 St. Louis?

In St. Louis, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from April to August. The best time to start is from April to June. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in St. Louis?

In St. Louis, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is in March. Picking runs from June to July.

When should I plant garlic in St. Louis?

In St. Louis, 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 St. Louis?

In most years the last frost in St. Louis comes around April 13. Frost is unlikely after about April 19, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 29.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in St. Louis?

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), basil (about 6 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks) and cilantro (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

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

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