Fall Planting Dates by Zone
The last safe day to sow each fall crop in USDA Zones 3–9 — computed from first-frost dates with the fall factor built in. (2026 calendar)
Quick answer · Updated July 2026
To find your fall planting date, add 14 days to a crop's days-to-maturity and count backward from your zone's first frost. In practice: sow fall carrots 12–13 weeks before first frost, beets and kale about 11 weeks, lettuce 9 weeks, spinach 8–9 weeks, and radishes as late as 6 weeks before. The full table below does the math for every zone.
How these dates are calculated
Every date in the table uses the same count-back formula: first frost − (days to maturity + 14-day fall factor). The fall factor matters because seed packets assume spring's lengthening days — in fall, shorter days and cooling soil slow growth, so crops need the extra two weeks of buffer.
Dates assume the midpoint of each zone's average first-frost window. Your microclimate can shift them a week either way — cold-hardy crops (kale, spinach, carrots) forgive a late sowing far better than tender ones like beans.
Last-safe fall sowing dates, Zones 3–9
| Crop | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 | Zone 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First frost → | ~Sep 20 | ~Oct 1 | ~Oct 10 | ~Oct 25 | ~Nov 1 | ~Dec 1 | ~Dec 20 |
| Radishes28 days · The latest sowing of all | Aug 9 | Aug 20 | Aug 29 | Sep 13 | Sep 20 | Oct 20 | Nov 8 |
| Spinach45 days · Overwinters under cover in most zones | Jul 23 | Aug 3 | Aug 12 | Aug 27 | Sep 3 | Oct 3 | Oct 22 |
| Lettuce50 days · Succession-sow weekly until the date | Jul 18 | Jul 29 | Aug 7 | Aug 22 | Aug 29 | Sep 28 | Oct 17 |
| Turnips55 days · Roots + greens; frost improves flavor | Jul 13 | Jul 24 | Aug 2 | Aug 17 | Aug 24 | Sep 23 | Oct 12 |
| Bush beans55 days · No frost tolerance — finish before | Jul 13 | Jul 24 | Aug 2 | Aug 17 | Aug 24 | Sep 23 | Oct 12 |
| Beets60 days · Harvest roots and greens | Jul 8 | Jul 19 | Jul 28 | Aug 12 | Aug 19 | Sep 18 | Oct 7 |
| Kale & collards60 days · Sweeter after frost | Jul 8 | Jul 19 | Jul 28 | Aug 12 | Aug 19 | Sep 18 | Oct 7 |
| Broccoli (transplants)65 days · From transplants, not seed | Jul 3 | Jul 14 | Jul 23 | Aug 7 | Aug 14 | Sep 13 | Oct 2 |
| Carrots75 days · Frost-sweetened; mulch to dig later | Jun 23 | Jul 4 | Jul 13 | Jul 28 | Aug 4 | Sep 3 | Sep 22 |
| GarlicPlant near first frost — harvest next summer | Sep–early Oct | Late Sep–Oct | Oct | Oct | Oct–early Nov | Oct–Nov | Nov |
Formula: first frost − (days to maturity + 14-day fall factor), from the midpoint of each zone's average first-frost window. Zones 1–2: the season is too short for a second sowing of most crops — treat July as your “fall” window for quick greens and radishes. Zones 10–13: no frost applies; fall (Sep–Dec) is the start of the main season.
Month-by-month fall guides
Fall planting: common questions
How do you calculate fall planting dates?＋
Take the crop’s days-to-maturity from the seed packet, add about 14 days (the “fall factor” — growth slows as days shorten), and count backward from your zone’s average first-frost date. The result is the last safe day to sow that crop for a fall harvest.
What is the fall factor in fall planting?＋
Roughly two extra weeks added to a crop’s stated days-to-maturity when sowing for fall. Seed-packet maturities assume the lengthening days of spring; in fall, shortening days and cooling soil slow growth, so crops need the buffer to mature before frost.
What can I still plant late in the fall window?＋
Radishes are the latest option — only about 6 weeks before first frost. Spinach and lettuce follow close behind, and in Zones 7–9 both can be sown even later for harvests under row cover. Garlic is the exception that wants lateness: plant it near your first frost for harvest next summer.
Do these dates work for zones 10 through 13?＋
Zones 10–13 have rare or no frost, so “last safe dates” don’t apply — fall is the beginning of the main growing season. Plant temperate vegetables from September through December as the heat breaks, and garden straight through winter.