DibbleWhat to plant in winter
In winter (December to February), leeks, parsley, onions, kale, cabbage and sage have a planting window in the most zones. 73 of the 78 crops in Dibble's library have a window in at least one zone this season. Pick your zone below to see which, with the months each one fits.
In cold zones winter is mostly planning and indoor work: onions, leeks and other slow starters can be sown indoors toward the end of the season, and winter sowing outdoors in containers gets the hardiest seeds going early. In the warmest zones winter is an outdoor planting season for cool crops.
Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10Zone 11
Not sure which zone you are in? Find your growing zone by ZIP code. These tables use US hardiness zones and northern hemisphere seasons. In the southern hemisphere the seasons flip. The Dibble app plans from where your garden is, in any country, so the seasons come out right wherever you garden.
Winter by month
What to plant in winter, by zone
Zone 3
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Leek (Feb, dates) |
Zone 4
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Onion (Feb, dates), Parsley (Feb, dates), Leek (Feb, dates), Celery (Feb, dates) |
Zone 5
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Onion (Feb, dates), Parsley (Feb, dates), Leek (Feb, dates), Celery (Feb, dates) |
Zone 6
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Onion (Feb, dates), Kale (Feb, dates), Cabbage (Feb, dates), Parsley (Feb, dates), Sage (Feb, dates), Leek (Feb, dates), Celery (Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Feb, dates) |
| Plant bulbs | Tulip (Dec, dates) |
Zone 7
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Pepper (Feb, dates), Kale (Feb, dates), Broccoli (Feb, dates), Cabbage (Feb, dates), Parsley (Jan to Feb, dates), Oregano (Feb, dates), Sage (Feb, dates), Chives (Feb, dates), Cauliflower (Feb, dates), Leek (Jan to Feb, dates), Hot Pepper (Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Feb, dates) |
| Direct sow | Garlic (Dec, dates), Radish (Feb, dates), Turnip (Feb, dates), Arugula (Feb, dates) |
| Plant bulbs | Tulip (Dec, dates) |
Zone 8
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Tomato (Feb, dates), Pepper (Jan to Feb, dates), Onion (Dec, dates), Kale (Dec to Feb, dates), Broccoli (Dec to Feb, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Marigold (Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec to Feb, dates), Oregano (Jan to Feb, dates), Sage (Jan to Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Eggplant (Feb, dates), Leek (Dec, dates), Hot Pepper (Jan to Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Direct sow | Garlic (Dec to Jan, dates), Lettuce (Jan to Feb, dates), Carrot (Jan to Feb, dates), Pea (Jan to Feb, dates), Spinach (Dec to Feb, dates), Beet (Feb, dates), Radish (Dec to Feb, dates), Cilantro (Jan to Feb, dates), Sunflower (Feb, dates), Dill (Feb, dates), Swiss Chard (Jan to Feb, dates), Turnip (Dec to Feb, dates), Arugula (Dec to Feb, dates), Calendula (Jan to Feb, dates), Borage (Feb, dates), Green Onion (Dec to Feb, dates), Bok Choy (Feb, dates), Fennel (Feb, dates), Shallot (Dec, Feb, dates), Kohlrabi (Jan to Feb, dates), Chamomile (Feb, dates) |
| Transplant | Onion (Dec, Feb, dates), Kale (Dec to Feb, dates), Broccoli (Jan to Feb, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Blueberry (Feb, dates), Blackberry (Feb, dates), Asparagus (Feb, dates), Grape (Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec, Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Leek (Dec to Feb, dates), Lavender (Dec to Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates), Apple (Feb, dates), Pear (Feb, dates), Peach (Feb, dates), Plum (Feb, dates), Cherry (Feb, dates), Apricot (Feb, dates) |
| Plant bulbs | Tulip (Dec to Jan, dates) |
Zone 9
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Tomato (Jan to Feb, dates), Pepper (Jan to Feb, dates), Kale (Dec to Feb, dates), Broccoli (Dec to Feb, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Basil (Feb, dates), Marigold (Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec to Feb, dates), Oregano (Jan to Feb, dates), Sage (Dec to Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Eggplant (Jan to Feb, dates), Cauliflower (Dec to Jan, dates), Leek (Dec, dates), Hot Pepper (Jan to Feb, dates), Tomatillo (Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Direct sow | Potato (Jan to Feb, dates), Garlic (Dec, dates), Lettuce (Dec to Feb, dates), Carrot (Dec to Feb, dates), Pea (Dec to Feb, dates), Spinach (Dec to Feb, dates), Beet (Dec to Feb, dates), Radish (Dec to Feb, dates), Cilantro (Dec to Feb, dates), Sunflower (Dec to Feb, dates), Dill (Dec to Feb, dates), Swiss Chard (Dec to Feb, dates), Turnip (Dec to Feb, dates), Parsnip (Dec, dates), Arugula (Dec to Feb, dates), Calendula (Dec to Feb, dates), Borage (Dec to Feb, dates), Green Onion (Dec to Feb, dates), Bok Choy (Dec to Feb, dates), Fennel (Dec to Feb, dates), Shallot (Dec to Feb, dates), Kohlrabi (Dec to Feb, dates), Chamomile (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Transplant | Onion (Dec to Jan, dates), Kale (Dec to Feb, dates), Broccoli (Dec to Feb, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Blueberry (Jan to Feb, dates), Blackberry (Jan to Feb, dates), Asparagus (Jan to Feb, dates), Grape (Jan to Feb, dates), Fig (Feb, dates), Mint (Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec to Feb, dates), Thyme (Feb, dates), Rosemary (Feb, dates), Oregano (Feb, dates), Sage (Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Cauliflower (Dec to Feb, dates), Brussels Sprouts (Dec to Jan, dates), Leek (Dec to Jan, dates), Celery (Dec, dates), Lavender (Dec to Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates), Apple (Jan to Feb, dates), Pear (Jan to Feb, dates), Peach (Jan to Feb, dates), Plum (Jan to Feb, dates), Cherry (Jan to Feb, dates), Apricot (Jan to Feb, dates) |
| Plant bulbs | Tulip (Dec to Jan, dates) |
| Plant tubers | Dahlia (Feb, dates) |
Zone 10
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Tomato (Jan to Feb, dates), Pepper (Feb, dates), Onion (Dec, dates), Kale (Dec to Feb, dates), Broccoli (Dec to Feb, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Basil (Jan to Feb, dates), Marigold (Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec to Feb, dates), Oregano (Jan to Feb, dates), Sage (Jan to Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Eggplant (Feb, dates), Cauliflower (Dec to Feb, dates), Brussels Sprouts (Dec to Jan, dates), Leek (Dec to Feb, dates), Hot Pepper (Feb, dates), Tomatillo (Jan to Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Direct sow | Potato (Dec to Feb, dates), Garlic (Dec, dates), Lettuce (Dec to Feb, dates), Carrot (Dec to Feb, dates), Pea (Dec to Feb, dates), Zucchini (Feb, dates), Winter Squash (Feb, dates), Spinach (Dec to Feb, dates), Beet (Dec to Feb, dates), Radish (Dec to Feb, dates), Sweet Corn (Feb, dates), Cilantro (Dec to Feb, dates), Sunflower (Dec to Feb, dates), Dill (Dec to Feb, dates), Swiss Chard (Dec to Feb, dates), Turnip (Dec to Feb, dates), Parsnip (Dec to Jan, dates), Arugula (Dec to Feb, dates), Nasturtium (Jan to Feb, dates), Calendula (Dec to Feb, dates), Borage (Dec to Feb, dates), Pumpkin (Feb, dates), Green Onion (Dec to Feb, dates), Bok Choy (Dec to Feb, dates), Fennel (Dec to Feb, dates), Shallot (Dec to Feb, dates), Kohlrabi (Dec to Feb, dates), Chamomile (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Transplant | Tomato (Feb, dates), Onion (Dec to Feb, dates), Kale (Dec to Feb, dates), Broccoli (Dec to Feb, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Basil (Feb, dates), Blueberry (Feb, dates), Asparagus (Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec to Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Cauliflower (Dec to Feb, dates), Brussels Sprouts (Dec to Feb, dates), Leek (Dec to Feb, dates), Celery (Dec to Jan, dates), Lavender (Dec to Feb, dates), Tomatillo (Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates), Pear (Feb, dates) |
| Plant bulbs | Tulip (Dec, dates) |
| Plant tubers | Dahlia (Dec to Feb, dates) |
Zone 11
Full zone calendar| Task | Crops |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Tomato (Dec to Feb, dates), Pepper (Dec to Feb, dates), Onion (Dec to Jan, dates), Kale (Dec to Jan, dates), Broccoli (Dec to Jan, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Basil (Dec to Feb, dates), Marigold (Dec to Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec to Jan, dates), Oregano (Feb, dates), Sage (Jan to Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Eggplant (Dec to Feb, dates), Leek (Dec, dates), Hot Pepper (Dec to Feb, dates), Tomatillo (Dec to Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Direct sow | Potato (Dec to Jan, dates), Garlic (Dec, dates), Lettuce (Dec to Feb, dates), Carrot (Dec to Feb, dates), Bean (bush) (Dec to Feb, dates), Pea (Dec to Feb, dates), Cucumber (Dec to Feb, dates), Zucchini (Dec to Feb, dates), Winter Squash (Dec to Feb, dates), Spinach (Dec to Jan, dates), Beet (Dec to Feb, dates), Radish (Dec to Feb, dates), Sweet Corn (Dec to Feb, dates), Cilantro (Dec to Feb, dates), Zinnia (Dec to Feb, dates), Sunflower (Dec to Feb, dates), Cosmos (Dec to Feb, dates), Dill (Dec to Feb, dates), Swiss Chard (Dec to Feb, dates), Turnip (Dec to Jan, dates), Arugula (Dec to Jan, dates), Okra (Dec to Feb, dates), Cantaloupe (Dec to Feb, dates), Watermelon (Dec to Feb, dates), Nasturtium (Dec to Feb, dates), Calendula (Dec to Feb, dates), Borage (Dec to Feb, dates), Pumpkin (Dec to Feb, dates), Green Onion (Dec to Feb, dates), Bok Choy (Dec to Feb, dates), Fennel (Dec to Feb, dates), Shallot (Dec to Jan, dates), Kohlrabi (Dec to Feb, dates), Chamomile (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Transplant | Tomato (Dec to Feb, dates), Pepper (Dec to Feb, dates), Onion (Dec to Feb, dates), Kale (Dec to Feb, dates), Broccoli (Dec to Feb, dates), Sweet Potato (Dec to Feb, dates), Cabbage (Dec to Feb, dates), Basil (Dec to Feb, dates), Marigold (Dec to Feb, dates), Parsley (Dec to Feb, dates), Chives (Dec to Feb, dates), Eggplant (Dec to Feb, dates), Cauliflower (Dec, dates), Leek (Dec to Feb, dates), Lavender (Dec to Feb, dates), Hot Pepper (Dec to Feb, dates), Tomatillo (Dec to Feb, dates), Collard Greens (Dec to Feb, dates) |
| Plant bulbs | Tulip (Dec to Jan, dates) |
| Plant tubers | Dahlia (Dec to Feb, dates) |
Last spring frost by zone
Indoor seed starting is counted back from the typical last spring frost, so this is the date to plan around. Each zone links to its seed-starting dates.
| Zone | Typical last spring frost | Frost-free days | Seed starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 18 | 130 | Zone 3 dates |
| Zone 4 | May 10 | 148 | Zone 4 dates |
| Zone 5 | May 3 | 162 | Zone 5 dates |
| Zone 6 | April 25 | 179 | Zone 6 dates |
| Zone 7 | April 8 | 207 | Zone 7 dates |
| Zone 8 | March 13 | 250 | Zone 8 dates |
| Zone 9 | February 10 | 303 | Zone 9 dates |
| Zone 10 | none in a typical year | All year | Zone 10 dates |
| Zone 11 | none in a typical year | All year | Zone 11 dates |
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