Zone 4a Planting Schedule
Action Plan: October in Zone 4a
Expert Note
In October, keep soil evenly moist but avoid waterlogged beds. Watch for late blight and frost damage; remove diseased leaves and cover plants when nights drop near freezing. Mulch around roots to buffer temperature swings.
The Harvest
Harvest tomatoes and peppers now while they’re still usable; pick frequently to reduce losses from cool nights. Prioritize Beefsteak, Better Boy, Brandywine, and Black Krim for best flavor, and gather hot peppers like Tabasco and Trinidad Moruga Scorpion before hard frost.
Planting Schedule
Add crops from the list below to build your planting schedule.| Crop | Indoor Start | Transplant / Sow | Harvest Window | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artichoke | Feb 20th | May 1st | Sep 28th – Sep 24th | |
| Giant Red Celery | Feb 20th | Jun 26th | Sep 24th – Sep 24th | |
| Green Sleeves | Feb 20th | Jun 26th | Sep 24th – Sep 24th | |
| Gros Vert de Laon | Feb 20th | May 8th | Aug 6th – Sep 24th | |
| Kojak | Feb 20th | May 1st | Aug 29th – Sep 24th | |
| Verina | Feb 20th | Apr 3rd | Jul 12th – Sep 24th | |
| African Sunset | Mar 6th | May 15th | Aug 13th – Sep 24th | |
| Alabaster | Mar 6th | May 8th | Sep 5th – Sep 24th | |
| Albin | Mar 6th | May 8th | Sep 5th – Sep 24th | |
| Amsterdam | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 1st – Sep 24th | |
| Amsterdam Cutting | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 24th – Sep 24th | |
| Amsterdam Seasoning | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 17th – Sep 24th | |
| Apollo | Mar 6th | May 8th | Sep 5th – Sep 24th | |
| Artichaut de Nice | Mar 6th | May 8th | Sep 5th – Sep 24th | |
| Artichoke de Marseille | Mar 6th | Jun 26th | Sep 24th – Sep 24th | |
| Atlas Angel | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 17th – Sep 24th | |
| Baby Artichoke | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 1st – Sep 24th | |
| Balder | Mar 6th | May 15th | Aug 28th – Sep 24th | |
| Bandit | Mar 6th | May 8th | Sep 5th – Sep 24th | |
| Beijing White | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 27th – Sep 24th | |
| Bing Select | Mar 6th | May 1st | Jul 10th – Sep 24th | |
| Blue Solaise | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 26th – Sep 24th | |
| Bordeaux | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 29th – Sep 24th | |
| Bullseye Salmon | Mar 6th | May 8th | Jul 17th – Sep 24th | |
| Cabernet | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 26th – Sep 24th | |
| Carmen F1 | Mar 6th | May 8th | Aug 21st – Sep 24th | |
| Cascade Blue | Mar 6th | May 15th | Jul 24th – Sep 24th | |
| Catanese | Mar 6th | Jul 10th | Nov 7th – Sep 24th | |
| Celebration | Mar 6th | May 1st | Jul 20th – Sep 24th | |
| Celeriac | Mar 6th | May 1st | Jul 30th – Sep 24th |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the frost dates for Zone Zone 4a?
In Zone Zone 4a, the average last spring frost is May 15th and the average first fall frost is Sep 24th.
When is the best time to start seeds indoors in Zone Zone 4a?
The best time to start most seeds indoors is 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date of May 15th.
How long is the growing season in Zone Zone 4a?
Zone Zone 4a has a growing season of approximately 132 days.