Midwest & Great Lakes Planting Calendar
Month-by-month planting calendar for the Midwest & Great Lakes. 162 crops with sow windows for a continental, cold winters and warm summers climate.
Monthly Planting Calendar
The Midwest and Great Lakes (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa, USDA 5b-6b) have cold winters and warm, humid summers with a roughly 160-180 day season. Hardy crops go in as the soil warms in April, frost-tender crops after the last frost in early May, and a second sowing in mid-summer gives a fall harvest. Garlic is planted in October. Last frost is typically late April and the first fall frost around mid-October. These windows are a first-pass estimate from regional extension guidance and are being reviewed locally.
Browse by Category
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
Free Monthly Planting Calendar
Get an email each month with what to plant, seasonal tips, and harvest reminders for your region.
We send one email per month. Unsubscribe any time.
Plan your whole garden in the app
Drag-and-drop beds, track from seed to harvest, and get Midwest & Great Lakes reminders every month.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When can I plant in the Midwest?
Hardy crops from April as the soil warms; tender crops after the early-May last frost. Sow fast cool-season crops again in July-August for fall.
How accurate are these dates?
A careful first pass based on regional extension calendars, under local review.