What Can Grow in Zone 2a?
Very cold winters with a short frost-free season. Focus on fast-maturing cool-season crops and cold-hardy perennials.
📅 Planting Calendar for Zone 2a
When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your frost dates.
| Plant | Start Indoors | Transplant Out | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥬 Arugula | — | — | May 25 | Jun 15 – Jul 4 |
| ❤️ Beets | — | — | May 25 | Jul 14 – Aug 3 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Apr 13 | May 25 | — | Jul 24 – Aug 13 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Apr 13 | May 25 | — | Aug 3 – Sep 22 |
| 🥬 Kale | Apr 27 | May 25 | — | Jul 19 – Aug 8 |
| 🌱 Microgreens | — | — | May 25 | Jun 1 – Jun 15 |
| 🧅 Onion | Mar 30 | May 25 | — | Aug 23 – Sep 22 |
| 🥕 Parsnip | — | — | May 25 | Sep 2 – Oct 2 |
| 🫛 Peas | — | — | May 25 | Jul 19 – Aug 3 |
| 🔴 Radish | — | — | May 25 | Jun 16 – Jun 24 |
| 🥔 Rutabaga | — | — | May 25 | Aug 23 – Sep 7 |
| 🫛 Snap Peas | — | — | May 25 | Jul 24 – Aug 3 |
| 🥬 Spinach | — | — | May 25 | Jul 4 – Jul 14 |
| 🥬 Swiss Chard | — | — | May 25 | Jul 14 – Jul 24 |
| 🫛 Turnip | — | — | May 25 | Jul 9 – Jul 24 |
| 💙 Borage | — | — | May 25 | Jul 14 – Jul 24 |
| 🌿 Dill | — | — | May 25 | Jul 4 – Jul 24 |
| 🌻 Sunflower | — | — | May 25 | Jul 24 – Aug 13 |
Dates are averages based on Zone 2a frost dates (last frost: late May, first frost: early September). Adjust for your specific microclimate.
🥦 Vegetables
- 🥬 Arugula EasyContainer OK
- 🌿 Asparagus
- ❤️ Beets EasyContainer OK
- 🥦 Broccoli Container OK
- 🥬 Cabbage Container OK
- 🥬 Kale EasyContainer OK
- 🌱 Microgreens Easy
- 🧅 Onion Container OK
- 🥕 Parsnip
- 🫛 Peas EasyContainer OK
- 🔴 Radish EasyContainer OK
- 🌿 Rhubarb EasyContainer OK
- 🥔 Rutabaga Easy
- 🫛 Snap Peas EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Spinach EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Swiss Chard EasyContainer OK
- 🫛 Turnip EasyContainer OK
🌿 Herbs
⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)
These plants are outside the ideal zone range but possible with the right approach.
🗺️ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
Zone 2 is shown in
this colour
on the map below
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — public domain. USDA Agricultural Research Service
USDA zones run 1a–13b (26 half-zones). Each full zone above covers both the a and b half-zones. Browse all US zones →
Browse Related Zones
Frequently Asked Questions
Very cold winters with a short frost-free season. Focus on fast-maturing cool-season crops and cold-hardy perennials. Vegetables like Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage all grow well here.
The growing season is short — roughly 98 days. Focus on fast-maturing varieties and start seeds indoors as early as possible.
Top vegetables for Zone 2a: Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage. For beginners, Arugula and Beets are the easiest to start with.
Borage, Dill grow easily in Zone 2a.
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