Practical guides to frost dates, seed starting, and planting decisions. Read the sources and check your local conditions before planting.
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When to Plant Cucumbers Outside: Soil, Frost, Timing
Plant cucumbers after the last frost, once soil hits 70°F. See what three extension guides say, a worked date example, and when seed beats transplants.
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When to Plant Green Beans Outside: Soil, Frost, Timing
Plant green beans after the last frost once soil hits 60°F. See what five extension sources say about seed rot, spacing, succession and fall cutoffs.
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When to Plant Peppers Outside: Nights, Soil, Frost
Plant peppers once frost is past and nights stay above 50°F. See what four extension guides say about soil, night lows and timing, with a go/no-go check.
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Garden Microclimates: Why Frost Hits Some Spots First
Learn how low spots, walls and pavement change frost in your yard, how to find your cold spots with a thermometer, and what to do about them.
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When to Plant a Fall Garden: Count Back From First Frost
Count back from your first fall frost to find each crop’s last planting day. See extension formulas, a worked example, and what to do if you are late.
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When to Plant Garlic: Count From Your First Frost
Plant garlic after the first frost and before the ground freezes. See six extension timing rules, a worked example, and what to do if you are late.
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When to Plant Tomatoes Outside: Soil, Nights, Frost
Plant tomato transplants after the last frost, once soil is near 60°F and nights stay above 50°F. See what extension sources say and a worked example.
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Frost Date vs Hardiness Zone: Which One Do You Need?
Hardiness zones show which perennials survive winter; frost dates show when to plant. See the difference, with Illinois and Colorado examples.
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Frost vs Freeze: What Each One Does to Your Plants
Frost is surface ice; a freeze is air at 32°F or lower. See NWS alert wording, hard-freeze lines, which crops die at which temperature, and what to cover.