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What Can Grow in Zone 4a?

Growing Zone Zone 4a
Frost-Free Days 163
Last Frost late April
First Frost early October

A true four-season climate. Warm enough for most vegetables with indoor starting. Perennial fruits like apples and raspberries thrive.

Find your exact zone:

📅 Planting Calendar for Zone 4a

When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your frost dates.

Plant Start Indoors Transplant Out Direct Sow Harvest
🌾 Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) Mar 28 Apr 25 — Jun 14 – Jul 9
🥬 Arugula — — Apr 25 May 16 – Jun 4
❤️ Beets — — Apr 25 Jun 14 – Jul 4
🫑 Bell Pepper Feb 28 Apr 25 — Jul 4 – Jul 24
🥬 Bok Choy Mar 28 Apr 25 — Jun 9 – Jun 24
🥦 Broccoli Mar 14 Apr 25 — Jun 24 – Jul 14
🫛 Brussels Sprouts Feb 28 Apr 25 — Jul 24 – Oct 22
🥬 Cabbage Mar 14 Apr 25 — Jul 4 – Aug 23
🥕 Carrot — — Apr 25 Jul 4 – Jul 14
🥔 Celeriac Feb 14 Apr 25 — Aug 13 – Aug 23
🍒 Cherry Tomato Mar 14 Apr 25 — Jun 19 – Jul 4
🌶️ Chili Pepper Feb 28 Apr 25 — Jun 29 – Jul 14
🌽 Corn — — Apr 25 Jun 24 – Jul 24
🥒 Cucumber Apr 4 Apr 25 — Jun 14 – Jul 4
🫘 Fava Beans — — Apr 25 Jul 14 – Aug 3
🌿 Florence Fennel — — Apr 25 Jun 29 – Jul 24
🧄 Garlic — — Oct 1 – Oct 31 Jun – Jul (following year)
🫘 Green Beans — — Apr 25 Jun 14 – Jun 29
🍬 Ground Cherry Mar 14 Apr 25 — Jul 4 – Jul 19
🥬 Kale Mar 28 Apr 25 — Jun 19 – Jul 9
🥬 Kohlrabi Mar 28 Apr 25 — Jun 9 – Jun 24
🧅 Leek Jan 31 Apr 25 — Aug 3 – Sep 22
🥬 Lettuce — — Apr 25 May 25 – Jun 24
🌱 Microgreens — — Apr 25 May 2 – May 16
🥬 Mustard Greens — — Apr 25 May 25 – Jun 4
🧅 Onion Feb 28 Apr 25 — Jul 24 – Aug 23
🥕 Parsnip — — Apr 25 Aug 3 – Sep 2
🫛 Peas — — Apr 25 Jun 19 – Jul 4
🥔 Potato — — Apr 25 Jul 4 – Aug 23
🎃 Pumpkin Apr 4 Apr 25 — Jul 9 – Aug 3
🔴 Radish — — Apr 25 May 17 – May 25
🥔 Rutabaga — — Apr 25 Jul 24 – Aug 8
🫛 Snap Peas — — Apr 25 Jun 24 – Jul 4
🥬 Spinach — — Apr 25 Jun 4 – Jun 14
🥬 Swiss Chard — — Apr 25 Jun 14 – Jun 24
🍅 Tomato Mar 14 Apr 25 — Jun 24 – Jul 19
🫛 Turnip — — Apr 25 Jun 9 – Jun 24
🥬 Zucchini Apr 4 Apr 25 — Jun 9 – Jun 24
🌿 Basil Mar 28 Apr 25 — May 25 – Jun 24
💙 Borage — — Apr 25 Jun 14 – Jun 24
🌿 Cilantro — — Apr 25 May 16 – Jun 9
🌿 Dill — — Apr 25 Jun 4 – Jun 24
🌱 Fenugreek (Methi) — — Apr 25 May 15 – May 25
🌿 French Tarragon — — Apr 25 Jun 24 – Jul 24
🌼 German Chamomile — — Apr 25 Jun 24 – Jul 24
🍃 Lemon Balm Mar 14 Apr 25 — Jun 24 – Jul 4
🌿 Parsley — — Apr 25 Jul 4 – Jul 24
🌻 Sunflower — — Apr 25 Jun 24 – Jul 14

Dates are averages based on Zone 4a frost dates (last frost: late April, first frost: early October). Adjust for your specific microclimate.

🥦 Vegetables

🍓 Fruits

🌿 Herbs

⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)

These plants are outside the ideal zone range but possible with the right approach.

🗺️ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Zone 4 is shown in this colour on the map below
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — zones 1 to 13

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — public domain. USDA Agricultural Research Service

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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

Zone 2a Zone 2b Zone 3a Zone 3b Zone 4a Zone 4b Zone 5a Zone 5b Zone 6a

Frequently Asked Questions

A true four-season climate. Warm enough for most vegetables with indoor starting. Perennial fruits like apples and raspberries thrive. Vegetables like Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Bell Pepper all grow well here.
You have about 163 frost-free days. Start warm-season crops indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost (late April) and transplant after that date.
Top vegetables for Zone 4a: Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Bell Pepper. For beginners, Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) and Arugula are the easiest to start with.
Apple, Blueberry, Elderberry, Gooseberry all grow well in Zone 4a. Zone 4a is suitable for most temperate fruits.