Planting windows for Alton
Computed from Alton's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-6 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Transplant | Direct sow |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍅 Tomatoes | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Jun 8 – Jun 15 | — |
| 🫑 Peppers | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jun 15 – Jun 22 | — |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Apr 20 – May 4 | May 4 – May 18 | May 4 – Jun 1 |
| 🫛 Peas | — | — | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| 🥕 Carrots | — | — | May 11 – Jun 1 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | May 11 – May 25 | — |
| 🥬 Kale | Apr 20 – May 4 | May 4 – May 18 | May 4 – May 18 |
| 🥒 Cucumbers | May 4 – May 11 | Jun 8 – Jun 15 | Jun 8 – Jun 15 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | May 4 – May 11 | Jun 8 – Jun 15 | Jun 8 – Jun 15 |
| 🫘 Green Beans (Bush) | — | — | Jun 8 – Jun 15 |
| 🌽 Sweet Corn | — | — | Jun 8 – Jun 15 |
| 🌿 Basil | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jun 8 – Jun 15 | Jun 15 – Jun 22 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | — | Fall: Aug 19 – Sep 16 |
Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Alton's dates automatically after a lookup.
Reading the season in Alton
At about 121 frost-free days, Alton rewards efficiency: start warm-season crops indoors, favor short-season varieties, and lean on cold-tolerant crops — peas, kale, roots — that shrug off the shoulder-season frosts on either end.