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Container Planting Calendar: Month-by-Month Growing Guide

Know exactly when to plant vegetables, herbs, and flowers in your container garden. This comprehensive monthly calendar shows you what to start indoors, when to transplant, what to direct sow, and what to harvest—customized for both warm and cool climate zones.

Whether you are growing on a balcony, patio, or windowsill, timing is everything. Use this calendar as your year-round reference for maximizing your container garden's productivity.

How to Use This Calendar

Activity Legend

Start Indoors: Plant seeds in containers inside under lights

Transplant: Move seedlings to outdoor containers

Direct Sow: Plant seeds directly in outdoor containers

Harvest: Crops ready to pick

Climate Zones

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+): Southern California, Florida, Gulf Coast, Arizona, South Texas

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8): Most of continental US including Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Mountain regions

Find your zone at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

Jump to Month

❄️January 🌱February 🌿March 🌸April 🌺May ☀️June 🌻July 🍅August 🎃September 🍂October 🍁November 🌨️December

❄️January Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

TomatoesPeppersEggplant

Transplant Outdoors

LettuceSpinachKale

Direct Sow

PeasRadishesCarrots

Ready to Harvest

LettuceKaleSpinachCitrus

Prime planting season in zones 9-10. Start warm-season crops indoors for spring transplanting. Harvest cool-season greens planted in fall.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

OnionsLeeksSlow-growing herbs

Ready to Harvest

Indoor microgreensSprouts

Focus on planning and seed ordering. Start onions from seed under grow lights. Maintain indoor herb gardens and microgreens.

🌱February Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

TomatoesPeppersEggplantSquash

Transplant Outdoors

LettuceBroccoliCabbage

Direct Sow

BeetsCarrotsPeasPotatoes

Ready to Harvest

LettuceSpinachRadishesBroccoli

Last chance to start slow-growing warm crops. Transplant cool-season seedlings. Direct sow root vegetables while soil is cool.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

PeppersEggplantOnionsLeeksCelery

Ready to Harvest

MicrogreensIndoor herbs

Start peppers and eggplant 8-10 weeks before last frost. These slow growers need early start. Continue microgreen rotations.

🌿March Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

CucumbersMelonsSquash

Transplant Outdoors

TomatoesPeppersEggplant

Direct Sow

BeansCornSquashSunflowers

Ready to Harvest

LettuceSpinachPeasRadishes

Transplant warm-season crops after last frost. Direct sow beans and squash. Harvest spring greens before they bolt.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

TomatoesBasilBroccoliCabbageCauliflower

Direct Sow

Peas (late month, Zone 7+)

Ready to Harvest

Indoor herbsMicrogreens

Start tomatoes 6-8 weeks before last frost. Begin hardening off early seedlings on warm days. Soil still too cold for outdoor sowing in most areas.

🌸April Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

PumpkinsWinter squash

Transplant Outdoors

CucumbersMelonsSquash

Direct Sow

BeansOkraSweet potatoes

Ready to Harvest

Tomatoes (early)PeppersSpring greens

Full swing planting season. Mulch containers heavily to retain moisture as temperatures rise. Watch for aphids on new growth.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

CucumbersSquashMelonsPumpkins

Transplant Outdoors

LettuceSpinachKaleBroccoliPeas

Direct Sow

PeasRadishesLettuceSpinachCarrots

Ready to Harvest

Overwintered kaleEarly radishes

Harden off seedlings and transplant cool-season crops. Direct sow peas and greens. Start warm-season crops indoors for May transplanting.

🌺May Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

Fall brassicas (late month)

Transplant Outdoors

Sweet potatoesPumpkins

Direct Sow

OkraSouthern peasSweet potatoes

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesPeppersSquashCucumbersBeans

Switch to heat-tolerant varieties. Shade lettuce to prevent bolting. Water deeply and frequently as heat increases.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

PumpkinsWinter squash

Transplant Outdoors

TomatoesPeppersEggplantBasil

Direct Sow

BeansCucumbersSquashCorn

Ready to Harvest

LettuceSpinachRadishesPeas

After last frost, transplant warm-season crops. Direct sow beans and squash when soil reaches 60°F. Harvest spring greens before summer heat.

☀️June Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

Fall tomatoesFall peppers

Direct Sow

Southern peasOkra

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesPeppersSquashCucumbersMelons

Peak harvest season. Start fall garden seedlings indoors in AC. Mulch heavily and water early morning. Remove spent spring plants.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

Fall broccoliFall cabbageBrussels sprouts

Transplant Outdoors

CucumbersMelonsLate peppers

Direct Sow

Beans (succession)Sunflowers

Ready to Harvest

LettucePeasEarly tomatoesHerbs

Last chance for warm-season transplants. Start succession planting beans. Begin starting fall brassicas indoors for July transplanting.

🌻July Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

Fall peppersFall eggplant

Transplant Outdoors

Fall tomatoes

Direct Sow

PumpkinsWinter squash

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesPeppersOkraMelonsCucumbers

Continue fall garden prep. Shade containers from afternoon sun. Water twice daily during heat waves. Harvest regularly to keep plants producing.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

Fall lettuceFall spinachKale

Transplant Outdoors

BroccoliCabbageBrussels sprouts

Direct Sow

Beans (final)BeetsCarrots for fall

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesCucumbersBeansSquashPeppers

Peak summer harvest. Start fall greens indoors where cool. Direct sow root vegetables for fall harvest. Keep containers well-watered.

🍅August Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

LettuceSpinachKale

Transplant Outdoors

Fall tomatoesFall peppers

Direct Sow

Beans (bush)Cucumbers

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesPeppersEggplantOkraMelons

Plant fall garden in earnest. Cool-season seeds may need refrigerator pre-chilling. Harvest summer crops before extreme heat damages quality.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

LettuceSpinach

Transplant Outdoors

Fall lettuceKaleBroccoli

Direct Sow

LettuceSpinachRadishesPeas (late month)

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesPeppersCucumbersBeansSquash

Prime fall garden planting window. Direct sow quick-maturing greens. Transplant fall brassicas. Continue harvesting summer crops.

🎃September Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

BroccoliCauliflowerCabbage

Transplant Outdoors

LettuceSpinachKale

Direct Sow

CarrotsBeetsRadishesPeas

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesPeppersSquashSweet potatoes

Fall planting in full swing. Direct sow cool-season crops. Temperatures moderating allows better germination of greens.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

Garlic (prepare cloves)

Transplant Outdoors

LettuceSpinach

Direct Sow

LettuceSpinachRadishesGarlic (late month)

Ready to Harvest

TomatoesPeppersWinter squashPumpkins

Final outdoor plantings. Cover tender crops on cold nights. Harvest winter squash before hard frost. Prepare garlic for planting.

🍂October Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Transplant Outdoors

BroccoliCauliflowerCabbage

Direct Sow

LettuceSpinachPeasOnion sets

Ready to Harvest

PeppersEggplantFall beansSweet potatoes

Excellent planting weather. Transplant brassicas for winter harvest. Direct sow greens and peas. Remove spent summer plants.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Direct Sow

GarlicOverwintering onions

Ready to Harvest

KaleBrussels sproutsLate tomatoesCarrots

Plant garlic for next year. Harvest remaining summer crops before hard frost. Protect containers from freeze. Clean and store empty pots.

🍁November Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Transplant Outdoors

LettuceSpinach

Direct Sow

PeasFava beansGarlic

Ready to Harvest

LettuceKaleBroccoliCauliflower

Cool-season crops thriving. Plant garlic for summer harvest. Protect from occasional frost with row covers. Excellent harvest month.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

MicrogreensSprouts

Ready to Harvest

KaleBrussels sproutsCarrotsParsnips

Harvest cold-hardy crops through light frost. Mulch garlic beds. Move containers to sheltered locations. Start indoor microgreen garden.

🌨️December Planting Guide

Warm Climate (Zones 9-10+)

Start Indoors

Tomatoes (late month)Peppers

Direct Sow

PeasFava beans

Ready to Harvest

LettuceSpinachKaleBroccoliCitrus

Peak cool-season harvest. Start planning spring garden. Begin slow-growing seeds under lights late month. Protect from rare freezes.

Cool Climate (Zones 4-8)

Start Indoors

MicrogreensSproutsOnions (late month)

Ready to Harvest

Kale (with protection)Brussels sproutsStorage carrots

Focus on indoor growing and planning. Order seeds for spring. Maintain cold-hardy crops with row covers. Enjoy stored harvest.

Quick Reference: Best Planting Times by Crop

Crop	Start Indoors	Transplant/Direct Sow	Days to Harvest	Best For
Tomatoes	6-8 weeks before last frost	After last frost (soil 60°F+)	60-85 days	5+ gallon containers
Peppers	8-10 weeks before last frost	2 weeks after last frost	60-90 days	3-5 gallon containers
Lettuce	4-6 weeks before transplant	Spring & fall (soil 40-75°F)	30-60 days	Any size, succession plant
Basil	6 weeks before last frost	After last frost (soil 60°F+)	60-90 days	8"+ pots, full sun
Spinach	Not needed (direct sow)	Early spring & fall (soil 35-75°F)	37-45 days	Cool weather, part shade OK
Kale	4-6 weeks before transplant	Spring & late summer	50-70 days	3+ gallon, cold hardy
Cilantro	Not recommended	Direct sow spring & fall	40-50 days	Cool weather, bolts in heat
Radishes	Not needed (direct sow)	Spring & fall (every 2 weeks)	22-30 days	Any container, quick crop
Bush Beans	Not recommended	Direct sow after last frost	50-60 days	5+ gallon, succession plant
Cucumbers	3-4 weeks before transplant	After last frost (soil 60°F+)	55-65 days	5+ gallon, vertical trellis

Essential Timing Tips for Container Gardens

Know Your Frost Dates

All planting schedules revolve around your local frost dates. Find your average last spring frost and first fall frost at garden.org or weather.gov. In container gardens, you have flexibility to protect plants or move them, but knowing these dates helps you plan.

Start warm-season seeds 6-8 weeks before last frost
Transplant after all danger of frost has passed
Plant fall crops 8-12 weeks before first frost

Soil Temperature Matters

Seeds germinate based on soil temperature, not air temperature. Container soil warms faster than ground soil—a major advantage. Use a soil thermometer or estimate: containers are typically 5-10°F warmer than ground.

Cool-season crops: 40-75°F soil (peas, lettuce, spinach)
Warm-season crops: 60-85°F soil (tomatoes, peppers, beans)
Heat-lovers: 70-95°F soil (melons, squash, okra)

Succession Planting

Don't plant everything at once. Succession planting means sowing small amounts every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest instead of one overwhelming crop. This is especially important for quick crops.

Lettuce: Plant every 2 weeks spring & fall
Radishes: Plant every 1-2 weeks
Beans: Plant every 2-3 weeks through summer

Learn more about succession planting

Extend Your Season

Container gardens offer unique season-extension options. You can move pots to protected locations, cover them easily, or bring them indoors during cold snaps.

Move containers against buildings for warmth
Use frost covers for 4-8°F protection
Start seeds indoors earlier than ground gardeners

Fall planting guide

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start seeds indoors for container gardening?

Most warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) should be started 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Cool-season crops like lettuce and broccoli need only 4-6 weeks indoors. Count backward from your last frost date (find yours at garden.org) to determine start dates. In warm climates (zones 9-10), you may start seeds in December-January for spring planting.

What vegetables can I plant in containers each month?

It depends on your climate zone. Cool climates (zones 4-6): Start peppers/tomatoes indoors February-March, transplant May-June, harvest July-September. Warm climates (zones 9-10): Plant cool-season crops October-February, warm-season March-April. Use our monthly calendar above for specific crops by month and climate zone.

How do I know which planting zone I'm in for this calendar?

This calendar uses simplified warm vs. cool climate designations. Warm climates include USDA zones 9-10+ (Southern California, Florida, Gulf Coast, Arizona). Cool climates include zones 4-8 (most of the continental US). If you're unsure, look up your USDA hardiness zone at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov and use the category that best matches.

Can I still plant vegetables in containers during summer?

Yes, but choices vary by climate. In cool climates (zones 4-7), June-July is prime planting time for succession beans, cucumbers, and fall brassica starts. In warm climates (zones 9-10), midsummer is too hot for most planting—wait until August-September to start fall gardens. Start heat-tolerant fall crops like peppers indoors with AC.

What's the difference between starting indoors, transplanting, and direct sowing?

Starting indoors means planting seeds in containers inside under lights or on windowsills, typically 4-8 weeks before outdoor planting. Transplanting means moving seedlings from indoor starts or purchased plants into outdoor containers. Direct sowing means planting seeds directly into their final outdoor container—best for crops that don't transplant well like carrots, radishes, and beans.

When is the best time to plant tomatoes in containers?

Start tomato seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. In cool climates (zones 5-7), this typically means March indoors, transplanting in May after soil reaches 60°F. In warm climates (zones 9-10), start seeds in December-January for spring harvest, or July-August for fall harvest. Tomatoes need nighttime temps consistently above 50°F.

Related Guides

Spring Container Gardening

Complete guide to starting your container garden in spring with the best crops and timing.

Fall Container Planting

Extend your growing season with cool-weather crops and frost protection strategies.

Succession Planting Guide

Learn to stagger plantings for continuous harvests throughout the growing season.

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