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When you start a garden, it’s easy to get caught up in what grow zone you’re in—but for most gardeners, frost dates matter more. Your last frost date tells you when it’s safe to put out tender plants, while cold-hardy ones can handle some frost and go in the ground much earlier.
With an early to mid-May last frost, you’ve got plenty of time to get a jump start! Planting hardy crops now means an earlier harvest, and starting warm-weather plants indoors ensures strong transplants when the time is right. Let’s dig into what you can plant before your last frost!
1. Cold-Hardy Vegetables to Direct Sow
These tough vegetables don’t mind cool weather and will thrive if planted now:
🥕 Root Vegetables – Carrots, Beets, Radishes, Turnips, Parsnips
🥬 Leafy Greens – Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens
🥦 Brassicas – Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts
🧄 Other Cool-Season Crops – Peas, Onion Sets, Garlic, Potatoes
🌿 Companion Planting Tip:
- Radishes & Carrots – Radishes loosen the soil, making it easier for carrots to grow straight.
- Lettuce & Brassicas – Lettuce shades the soil, keeping it cool for broccoli and cabbage roots.
💡 Early planting means you can harvest these crops before summer heat makes them bolt!
2. Hardy Flowers to Sow Now
If you want early blooms and pollinators, these flowers can be direct sown before your last frost:
🌸 Perennials & Biennials – Lupines, Columbine, Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, Delphiniums
🌼 Hardy Annuals – Pansies, Snapdragons, Calendula, Sweet Peas, Bachelor’s Buttons
🌿 Companion Planting Tip:
- Calendula & Brassicas – Calendula repels aphids from cabbage, kale, and broccoli.
- Sweet Peas & Peas – Sweet peas bring in pollinators, which helps nearby peas produce better.
💡 Many of these flowers will self-seed, meaning less work for you next year!
3. Warm-Season Crops & Flowers to Start Indoors
Since these plants can’t handle frost, they need a head start inside.
🍅 Vegetables – Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Basil
🌺 Flowers – Zinnias, Cosmos, Marigolds, Dahlias (start tubers indoors)
🌿 Companion Planting Tip:
- Marigolds & Tomatoes – Marigolds repel nematodes and keep pests away from tomato plants.
- Basil & Peppers – Basil improves the flavor of peppers and repels insects.
💡 Use a heat mat and grow lights to keep seedlings strong and ready for transplanting!
4. Herbs & Pollinator Plants to Start Now
Some herbs can go in the ground early, while others need warmth.
🌿 Plant Outdoors Now – Parsley, Cilantro, Dill, Chives
🌿 Start Indoors – Lavender, Basil, Bee Balm, Chamomile
🌿 Companion Planting Tip:
- Dill & Cucumbers – Dill attracts beneficial insects that keep cucumber pests away.
- Lavender & Fruit Trees – Lavender brings in pollinators for better fruit production.
💡 Early-planted herbs will be ready when you need them for summer cooking and preserving!
5. Why Frost Dates Matter More Than Grow Zones
A lot of gardening advice focuses on grow zones, but for most home gardeners, frost dates are what actually determine when and what you can plant.
🌱 Grow zones tell you what survives in winter, but they don’t help with spring planting. This only becomes important when planting perennials.
🌱 Your last frost date tells you when it’s safe to plant frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers.
🌱 Your first frost date (in fall) tells you how long your growing season is.
💡 Moral of the story? Know your frost dates and work with them—your plants will thank you!
6. Tools & Tips for Success
🛠️ Essential Tools & Supplies:
- Sun Lights or a Bright Window – The plants will sprout a few weeks before they can go outside so a good light source is needed.
- Growing Medium – good soil, seed trays, or peat pods to start your indoor seeds
- Cold Frames & Row Covers – Protect young seedlings from unexpected frost.
- Compost & Mulch – Build healthy soil before summer heat kicks in.
- Plant Markers & Garden Journal – Keep track of what’s growing where.
🌦️ Watching the Weather:
If a hard frost is expected, cover tender seedlings overnight..
Check 10-day forecasts before direct sowing.
Get Growing Before the Frost is Gone!
Getting plants in the ground before your last frost gives you a head start on a productive garden. By choosing cold-hardy crops, starting warm-weather plants indoors, and using companion planting, you’ll have a thriving garden by summer!
🌱 What are you planting before your last frost? Let me know in the comments!
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