Zone 3 Planting Guide

When to Start Planting According to Your Hardiness Zone
The United States is broken into 13 hardiness zones. Each zone has specific requirements for when certain plants should be started. The zones were created based on the area’s lowest average temperature. Zone 3 is known for its harsh conditions and cold temperatures. Parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota are in zone 3. Because of this, some plants simply aren’t suited to grow in this zone. For more information on what plants are suitable for zone 3 and when they should be started, check out our zone 3 graph below.

Garden Planting Chart (start seeds in a controlled environment before these dates as indicated)
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Artichokes Crown Aug – Oct Aug – Nov      
(globe) pieces May – Jun Apr – June      
Asparagus 1 year Mar – Apr Feb – Mar Apr 15 – May 1  Apr 5 – 25 2nd seas.
             
Beans (lima)   not May – Jun May 15 – Jun 10 May 10 – 25 65-75
    suitable        
Beans (snap)   May – Jun May – July May 15 – Jul 1 May 10 – 20 50-60
             
Beets   Mar – Jun Mar – Jun Apr 15 – Jul 1 Apr 1 – 15 55-65
             
Broccoli 6 weeks May – Jun Mar – Aug Apr 15 – Jun 1 Mar 25 – Apr 5
Apr 5
60-80
          Sep 25 – 30  
Brussels sprouts 6 weeks May – Jun May – Jul Apr 15 – Jun 1    
             
Cabbage 6 weeks Jan – Apr Apr – Jun April 1 – May 1 Apr 1 – 20 65-80
    July – Sep     Sep 20 – 30  
Cantaloupes 4 weeks not May May 15 – June 1 May 10- 20 80-90
    suitable        
Carrots   Jan – Jun Mar – Jul 15 April 15 – June 15 Mar 25 – Apr 10
70-80
          Sept 20-30  
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Cauliflower 6 weeks January & Apr – Jul 15 April 15 – June 15 Apr 1 – 20 55-60
    June     Sept 20 – 30  
Celery 9 weeks Mar – Jun Mar – Jul May (mid)    
             
Chard   Feb – May Apr – Jul  May (early)    
             
Chinese 4 weeks Jul – Aug August Jul (early)    
cabbage            
Chives 6 weeks Apr – May Mar – May      
             
Corn (sweet)   Apr – May Apr – Jun   May 1 to Jul 20 80-100
             
Cucumbers 4 weeks Apr – Jun May – Jun May 1 – Jun 15 May 10 – 30 60-65
(slicing)            
Cucumbers 4 weeks May May – Jun      
(pickling)            
Dill   May May      
             
Eggplants 9 weeks not May Jun (early) May 15 – 25 70-90
    suitable        
Endive 6 weeks Mar – Jul Apr – Aug 15 Apr (mid)    
             
Garlic   Sep – Oct Sep – Feb Oct – Nov 1    
             
Kale   May – Jul May – July Apr 15 – Jul 15 Mar 25 – Apr 5 50-70
             
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Kohlrabi   Jul – Aug Apr – Aug 15 Apr 15 – Aug 15 Apr (early)  
          Sept (late)  
Leeks   Feb – Apr Mar – May      
             
Lettuce (head) 5 weeks Feb – Jul Apr -July Apr 15 – Aug 15 Apr 1 – May 15 60-85
          Sep 1 – 15  
Lettuce (leaf) 5 weeks Feb – Aug Apr – Aug Apr 15 – May 1 Apr 1 – Jun 15 45-65
          Sep 1 – 15  
Okra 8 weeks not not Jun (early) May 10 – 25 55-60
    suitable suitable      
Onions 10 weeks Jan – May Mar – May Apr (mid) Mar 25 – Apr 15 100-120
          Sep 1 – Dec 31  
Parsley 10 weeks Dec – May Mar – Jun Apr 15 – May 1    
             
Parsnips   May – June Apr – May May 1 – 15    
             
Peas   Jan – Aug Feb – May Apr 10 – May 15 Mar 25 – Apr 10  60-80
             
Peppers 10 weeks May May – June Jun (early) May 15 – May 30 65-80
             
Potatoes 6 weeks not not Jun (early) May 15 – Jun 5 90-150
(sweet)   suitable suitable      
Vegetable Start plants this long before planting (for your region) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zones 3 & 4 Zones 5 & 6 Days to maturity / harvest
Potatoes (white)   Feb – May Apr – Jun Apr 15 – Jun 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15 70-90
             
Pumpkins   May May May (mid) May 15 – 30 85-90
             
Radish   All year Mar – Sep Apr 10 – Jun 1 Mar 25 – May 1 Aug 1 – 20 25-30
        Aug 1 – Aug 15    
Rhubarb Crown Dec – Jan Mar – Apr Apr 15 – May 1    
  pieces          
Rutabagas   Jun – Jul Jun – July May 15 – Jun 15    
             
Spinach   Aug – Feb April or Apr (mid) April 1 – 20  40-45
      Sept. Aug 1- Aug 15 Aug 10 – Sep 20  
Squash 4 weeks May May – Jun May 10 – Jun 1 May 15 – 30 50-55
(summer)            
Squash (winter) 4 weeks May May May 10 – Jun 1 May 15 – 30 85-90
             
Tomatoes 8 weeks May – Jun May May 15 – Jun 1 May 15 – 30 70-85
             
Turnips   January & Apr – Sep Apr (mid)  Mar 25 – May 1 45-65
    August   Aug (early) Aug 5 – Set 20  
Watermelons 4 weeks not May May 15 – Jun 1 May 10 – 12 80-90
    suitable        
For many crops, the quantity of starts to plant should be divided into several plantings, 1 or 2 weeks apart.
This schedule was compiled from extension service materials and is incomplete. We will update it when possible.  Look up your local USDA extension office for more information.  This table cannot be republished without permission.

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