What to Plant in Spring: A Region-by-Region Guide

Spring is the most exciting season in the garden — the moment the soil warms and possibilities multiply. But "spring planting" means very different things depending on where you live. A gardener in California's Central Valley may already be harvesting lettuce in February, while someone in Minnesota won't safely plant tomato seedlings until late May. This guide helps you figure out exactly what to plant right now, wherever you are in the world.

Understanding Your Climate Before You Plant

Before reaching for seed packets, know three numbers:

1. Your last frost date — the average date after which nighttime temperatures stay above 0°C (32°F). This is the key threshold for tender crops. Find yours using your country's meteorological service or a gardening frost-date calculator. 2. Your hardiness zone — USDA Hardiness Zones (US/Canada) range from Zone 3 (severe winters, −40°C / −40°F) to Zone 13 (tropical). The RHS hardiness system (UK/Europe) uses H1–H7. Both indicate how cold your winters get, which determines which perennials survive, but for annual vegetables your last frost date matters more. 3. Your average spring rainfall and sun hours — determines whether you need to irrigate or can rely on rain, and how quickly the soil warms.

Southern Hemisphere readers: If you're in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, or anywhere south of the equator, your seasons are reversed. When this guide says "spring (March–May Northern Hemisphere)," your spring runs September–November. Adjust all timing accordingly, and check your local last-frost date for planting guidance.

Zone-by-Zone Spring Planting Guide

Warm Climates (Zones 9–13 / H1–H2 equivalent) — February to March

If you're in Southern California, the Gulf Coast, Florida, the Mediterranean coast, much of Australia, or similar subtropical/warm-temperate regions, spring gardening begins earliest.

What to plant now (direct sow or transplant):

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant/aubergine — set out transplants once nights are reliably above 10°C (50°F)

Cucumbers, zucchini/courgette, summer squash

Beans (bush and pole), corn/maize, okra

Basil, dill, coriander/cilantro

What's still going strong from winter:

Lettuce, spinach, kale, chard — harvest before they bolt in rising heat

Brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage — finish harvesting before temps top 24°C (75°F) consistently

Tip: In the hottest warm zones (Zone 11–13), direct summer sun can scorch young seedlings. Use shade cloth at 30–40% for the first few weeks after transplanting.

Mild Temperate Climates (Zones 7–8 / H3–H4) — March to April

This covers much of the Pacific Northwest (US/Canada), the UK, Ireland, northern France, coastal Scandinavia, New Zealand's South Island, and similar regions.

Direct sow outdoors (as soon as soil can be worked):

Peas — sow as early as 6 weeks before last frost

Lettuce, spinach, arugula/rocket, radishes — cold-tolerant, sow from late February onward

Carrots, beetroot/beets — sow into warm soil from March

Onion sets and shallots

Start indoors (6–8 weeks before last frost):

Tomatoes, peppers, celery

Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) for summer harvest

Transplant outdoors (with frost protection if needed):

Brassica seedlings started in late winter

Hardened-off lettuce and spinach modules

Cover crops: If you have empty beds, a spring green manure (crimson clover, mustard, or phacelia) adds nitrogen and organic matter before your main crops go in.

Cool-Temperate and Continental Climates (Zones 4–6 / H5–H7) — April to May

This includes the northern US Midwest and Northeast, Canada's prairies, much of central Europe, Scandinavia, and higher-altitude regions worldwide.

The golden rule: Don't rush frost-sensitive crops. A single late frost after planting out can undo weeks of work. Watch local forecasts and keep fleece/row covers handy.

Direct sow outdoors from mid-spring:

Peas, spinach, lettuce — can go in as soon as soil is workable (even if light frosts still possible)

Radishes, carrots — wait for soil to reach at least 7°C (45°F) for germination

Onions, leeks from sets

Start indoors:

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant/aubergine — 8–10 weeks before last frost

Brassicas — 6 weeks before last frost

Squash, cucumbers, zucchini/courgette — these have taproots that don't transplant well; start 3–4 weeks before last frost in biodegradable pots

Transplant outdoors after last frost:

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers — wait for sustained nights above 10°C (50°F)

Squash and beans are often better direct-sown after frost once soil is warm

Short-Season and High-Altitude Climates (Zones 2–3) — May to June

If you're in northern Canada, Alaska, Siberia, mountainous regions, or similar harsh climates, spring is short and precious.

Focus on:

Short-season varieties specifically bred for 50–70 day growing windows (look for "short season" or "early" labels)

Cold-hardy crops: kale, spinach, chard, turnips, radishes — these can withstand light frosts

Starting everything indoors — you may only have 10–14 weeks between last spring frost and first autumn frost

Raised beds and dark-coloured containers that absorb heat faster

Variety tips for short seasons:

Tomatoes: Stupice (60 days), Glacier (55 days), Siletz

Squash: Patio Star, Bush Delicata

Beans: Provider (50 days)

What to Do Right Now (Mid-April, Northern Hemisphere)

If you're reading this in mid-April in the Northern Hemisphere, here's your quick-start checklist regardless of zone:

Zones 9–13: Your main spring planting window is open or even closing. Get tomatoes and peppers in the ground if you haven't.

Zones 7–8: Start or transplant cool-season crops outdoors. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors if you haven't already.

Zones 4–6: Last frost is likely 3–6 weeks away. Start warm-season crops indoors. Sow peas, spinach, and lettuce outside.

Zones 2–3: You may still have frost. Focus on indoor seed starting and cold-hardy crops under cover.

The 5 Crops to Start Right Now (Globally)

If you're not sure where to begin, these five crops suit gardeners at almost every latitude during spring:

1. Lettuce — germinates in cool soil, ready in 45–60 days, can be harvested cut-and-come-again 2. Radishes — fastest crop in the garden, 25–30 days from sow to harvest 3. Peas — prefer cool weather, sweet flavour, minimal effort 4. Kale — frost-tolerant, highly nutritious, productive for months 5. Herbs (basil in warm climates, parsley/chives in cool) — grow in containers, useful in the kitchen

Soil Preparation Tips for Spring

Regardless of your zone, these steps set up a successful season:

Test your soil — a basic pH test (aim for 6.0–7.0 for most vegetables) costs very little and saves guesswork on fertiliser

Add compost — work in 5–7 cm (2–3 in) before planting; it improves drainage, adds nutrients, and feeds soil microbes

Don't work wet soil — stepping on or digging waterlogged beds compacts them; wait until the soil crumbles when squeezed

Mulch after planting — 5–8 cm (2–3 in) of straw or wood chips retains moisture and suppresses weeds

Grow, Swap, Share

One of the great joys of spring gardening is the abundance it creates — and inevitably, you'll grow more than you need of some things. Locavori connects gardeners and urban growers in the same neighbourhood, making it easy to swap surplus seedlings, produce, and gardening knowledge with people close by.

Whether you've got extra tomato seedlings looking for a home or you're looking for a courgette plant to fill a gap in your raised bed, there's probably someone nearby who can help — and who'll be glad you reached out.

Start connecting with local growers → locavori.app/register