Zone 4a Planting Calendar 2026Complete Seed Starting Schedule
Zone 4a offers a growing season of about 135–145 days. With strategic indoor seed starting, gardeners can successfully grow a wide range of vegetables including tomatoes and peppers using short-season varieties. Covers parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and the northern Midwest.
Last Frost
May 1
First Fall Frost
September 15
Growing Season
137 days
2026 Monthly Planting Schedule
Your month-by-month guide for Zone 4a
1January
🌱 Indoors: Start early crops indoors
☀️ Notes: Plan garden, order seeds
2February
🌱 Indoors: Start main season crops
🌍 Direct: Cold hardy crops direct sow
☀️ Notes: Prepare soil when workable
3March
🌱 Indoors: Continue seed starting
🌍 Direct: Direct sow cool season
☀️ Notes: Prepare beds
4April
🌱 Indoors: Finish warm season indoors
🌍 Direct: Direct sow beans, corn
☀️ Notes: Main transplant month
5May
🌍 Direct: Succession plant
☀️ Notes: Plant out all seedlings
6June
🌱 Indoors: Start fall crops
🌍 Direct: Plant fall vegetables
☀️ Notes: Maintain and water
7July
🌱 Indoors: Fall transplant seedlings
🌍 Direct: Plant fall crops
☀️ Notes: Begin fall planning
8August
🌍 Direct: Plant fall greens
☀️ Notes: Fall garden planting
9September
🌍 Direct: Plant garlic
☀️ Notes: Fall planting continues
10October
🌱 Indoors: Order seeds
☀️ Notes: Clean up, prepare winter
Recommended Varieties for Zone 4a
Top-performing varieties adapted to your zone
tomato
pepper
lettuce
cucumber
squash
Best Crops for Zone 4a
Top performers in your zone's climate
💡 Zone Tip: A hoop house or low tunnel can significantly extend your productive season. Start tomatoes 8 weeks before May 1 frost date.
Major Cities in Zone 4a
These areas share your hardiness zone
Zone 4a on the Map
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