The one rule that matters most: wait for warm soil
Warm-season crops — tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, corn — don't just dislike frost, they sulk in cold soil and sit still until it warms up. A plant set out two weeks after your last frost, into 60°F+ soil, will usually overtake one rushed into the ground two weeks early. "After last frost" below means your local average last spring frost; the app pins that to your exact ZIP so you're not guessing.
Warm-season vegetables
Sow or transplant these once frost is past and the soil has warmed. Spacing is in-row; give sprawling vines the wider end of the range.
| Plant | Start | When to plant | Spacing | Days to harvest | Sun & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Transplant | 2–3 wks after last frost, soil 60°F+ | 24–36 in | 60–85 | Full sun; stake or cage |
| Pepper | Transplant | After last frost, soil 65°F+ | 18–24 in | 60–90 | Full sun; loves heat |
| Eggplant | Transplant | After last frost, soil 65°F+ | 18–24 in | 70–85 | Full sun; true heat-lover |
| Tomatillo | Transplant | After last frost | 24–36 in | 75–100 | Full sun; plant 2+ to set fruit |
| Cucumber | Sow or transplant | After last frost, soil 65°F+ | 12–18 in (trellis) | 50–70 | Full sun; keep evenly watered |
| Zucchini | Sow | After last frost | 24–36 in | 45–60 | Full sun; picks fast, check daily |
| Summer squash | Sow | After last frost | 24–36 in | 45–60 | Full sun |
| Winter squash | Sow | After last frost | 36–48 in | 80–110 | Full sun; needs room to run |
| Pumpkin | Sow | After last frost | 48–72 in | 90–120 | Full sun; sprawls, give it space |
| Watermelon | Sow or transplant | Soil 70°F+ | 36–48 in | 70–90 | Full sun; wants a long, warm season |
| Sweet corn | Sow | After last frost, soil 60°F+ | 8–12 in, in blocks | 60–100 | Full sun; plant blocks, not rows, to pollinate |
| Green beans | Sow | After last frost | 4–6 in | 50–65 | Full sun; bush or pole |
| Dry beans | Sow | After last frost | 4–6 in | 85–100 | Full sun; leave to dry on the plant |
| Okra | Sow | Soil 65–70°F+ | 12–18 in | 50–65 | Full sun; thrives in real heat |
| Sweet potato | Slips | 3–4 wks after last frost, warm soil | 12–18 in | 90–120 | Full sun; loose, warm soil |
Herbs
A few herbs (cilantro, chervil, dill, parsley) actually prefer cool weather and bolt in summer — sow those in spring and again in fall. The woody perennials (sage, thyme, rosemary, lavender, oregano) go in once and stay for years.
| Herb | Start | When to plant | Spacing | Harvest | Sun & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Sow or transplant | After last frost, warm soil | 8–12 in | 30–60 | Full sun; pinch tips to bush out |
| Cilantro | Sow | Cool season — spring & fall | 4–6 in | 40–50 | Sun/part; bolts in summer heat |
| Parsley | Sow or transplant | Early spring or fall | 6–10 in | 70–90 | Sun/part; slow to germinate |
| Dill | Sow | Spring, then succession | 8–12 in | 40–60 | Full sun; self-seeds happily |
| Chervil | Sow | Cool season — spring & fall | 6–9 in | 40–60 | Part shade; bolts in heat |
| Fennel | Sow | Spring or late summer | 10–12 in | 65–90 | Full sun; keep away from beans |
| Borage | Sow | After last frost | 18–24 in | 50–60 | Full sun; bee magnet, self-seeds |
| Chives | Sow or divide | Early spring | 6–10 in | Perennial | Sun/part; snip often to keep tender |
| Sage | Transplant | Spring | 18–24 in | Perennial | Full sun; woody, drought-tough |
| Thyme | Transplant | Spring | 8–12 in | Perennial | Full sun; sharp drainage |
| Oregano | Transplant | Spring | 12–18 in | Perennial | Full sun; spreads, cut back hard |
| Rosemary | Transplant | Spring, after frost | 24–36 in | Perennial | Full sun; tender in cold zones |
| Lavender | Transplant | Spring | 18–24 in | Perennial | Full sun; must have sharp drainage |
| Tarragon (French) | Transplant or divide | Spring | 18–24 in | Perennial | Full sun; buy plants — it won't come true from seed |
| Mint | Transplant | Spring | Contain it! | Perennial | Sun/part; grow in a pot or it takes over |
| Lemon balm | Transplant | Spring | 18–24 in | Perennial | Sun/part; spreads — contain like mint |
| Lovage | Transplant | Spring | 24–36 in | Perennial | Sun/part; tall, tastes like celery |
| Comfrey | Transplant or root cutting | Spring | 24–36 in | Perennial | Sun/part; a chop-and-drop mulch plant |
| Lemongrass | Transplant | After last frost, warm | 24 in | Tender perennial | Full sun; overwinter indoors in cold zones |
| Stevia | Transplant | After last frost, warm | 18 in | Tender perennial | Full sun; frost-tender, lift in fall |
Bottom line: patience beats the calendar. Wait for settled warmth, give each plant its room, and let days-to-harvest tell you when to expect the first pick. The bed planner will lay these out to scale and the app will time them to your frost dates.