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Planting Calendar for Elmira, NY

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 5 (at ELMIRA, NY climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 17-Sep 21
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 13-Aug 10
Moon Jul 13-23, Aug 10
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 27-Aug 17
Moon Jul 27-Aug 9
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 6-13
Moon Jul 6-10
Frost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 9
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 15-29
Moon Jun 25-29
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 6-13
Moon Jul 6-10
Frost Jul 27-Aug 3
Moon Jul 27-Aug 3
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 20-27
Moon Jul 20-23
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 29-Jul 6
Moon Jun 29-Jul 6
Frost Jul 13-20
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 13-Aug 10
Moon Jul 24-Aug 9
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 6-20
Moon Jul 6-10
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 19-Nov 2
Moon Oct 19-20
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 24-Aug 3
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 9
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 3-24
Moon Aug 3-9, Aug 23-24
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 3-24
Moon Aug 3-9, Aug 23-24
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 9
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 17-Sep 7
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 10-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 11 (at ELMIRA, NY climate station, elevation 948 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 13-20
Sep 7
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 11
May 11
BasilFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon May 26-Jun 8
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon May 26-Jun 8
Aug 24
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
May 25
Bell PeppersFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
N/AJul 13
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Jun 22
BroccoliFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 13-20
Aug 3
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 13-20
Jun 29
CabbageFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 13-20
May 18
CantaloupesFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
Frost May 18-25
Jun 29
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-26
Jul 27
CauliflowerFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
N/AJul 20
CeleryFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 11
Moon May 11
Jul 27
ChivesFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Aug 10
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
Jun 1
CollardsFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Jul 27
CucumbersFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Jul 27
DillN/AN/AFrost May 4-25
Moon May 4-12
Aug 10
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Jun 29
EggplantsFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
N/AJul 27
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-20
May 25
FennelFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 18-25
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
Jul 20
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 18-Jun 8
Moon May 26-Jun 8
Jul 27
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Jul 6
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 13-20
May 25
KohlrabiFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 13-20
May 25
LeeksFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AJun 22
LettuceFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 13-20
May 25
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon May 26-Jun 8
Jul 27
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-26
N/AJun 29
OreganoFrost Mar 1-30
Moon Mar 1-14, Mar 29-30
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
N/AJul 27
ParsleyFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost Apr 13-May 18
Moon Apr 27-May 12
Jul 20
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Jun 29
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Jun 1-15
Moon Jun 12-15
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-20
May 25
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-26
Jul 27
PumpkinsFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Jun 22
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Aug 10
RosemaryFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
N/AAug 10
SageFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
N/AJul 20
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-26
Jun 29
SpinachFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 13-20
May 25
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 25-Jun 8
Moon May 26-Jun 8
Jul 20
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 25-Jun 8
Moon May 25
Jun 22
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 20-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
May 25
ThymeFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost May 18-25
N/AJul 13
TomatillosFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon May 26-Jun 8
N/AJul 20
TomatoesFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
N/AJul 6
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Sep 7
WatermelonsFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 18-25
Jul 6
Winter SquashFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Jun 15
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Moon May 26-Jun 1
Aug 3
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