When to Plant in Rhode Island: Vegetable & Flower Planting Calendar
Quick answer
Plant around your local last spring frost: across the 81 Rhode Island ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median is Apr 22 and the median first fall frost is Oct 20 (nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020). Transplant tomatoes 1–2 weeks after your last frost: Zone 6 areas: Apr 29 – May 6; Zone 7 areas: Apr 18 – Apr 25.
Rhode Island spans USDA hardiness zones 6b–7b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). For the 81 of its 81 ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the nearest NOAA station’s median last spring frost (32°F, 1991–2020) is Apr 22 (middle 80% of ZIP codes: Apr 11 – May 1) and the median first fall frost is Oct 20 (Oct 12 – Nov 2). Use this guide to time seed-starting, transplanting and fall planting.
Where these dates come from: every date range is counted from the median (50% probability) 32°F last spring and first fall frost dates in NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the area shown. The rule under each date, such as “4–6 weeks before last frost,” shows how it was counted. These are averages: in about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date, and elevation, nearby water and microclimate can shift your yard by a week or more. For dates for your exact location, enter your ZIP code in the planner.
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Rhode Island frost dates by zone area
| Zone areas | Most common nearest NOAA stations | Median last spring frost (32°F) | Median first fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6 (40 ZIP codes) | Woonsocket, RI, N Foster 1 E, RI, Coventry 2, RI | Apr 22middle 80%: Apr 11 – May 3 | Oct 19middle 80%: Oct 8 – Oct 30 |
| Zone 7 (40 ZIP codes) | Providence T F Green Airport, RI, Westerly State Airport, RI, Tiverton, RI | Apr 11middle 80%: Apr 11 – Apr 22 | Oct 30middle 80%: Oct 19 – Nov 4 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal freeze-date probabilities (32°F, 50% probability). Station-level medians; your yard may differ.
How this table is built: each Rhode Island ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles) and grouped by its 2023 USDA hardiness zone; dates are medians across the ZIP codes in each group. For your own ZIP, use the planner.
Rhode Island vegetable planting calendar
Planting dates for each zone area of Rhode Island, counted from that area’s median frost dates (shown under each column). Rows run in calendar order. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP.
| Plant, task and rule | Zone 6 areasLast frost Apr 22 · First frost Oct 19 | Zone 7 areasLast frost Apr 11 · First frost Oct 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Cabbage · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Kale · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Tomatoes · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Peppers · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Eggplant · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Peas · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 11 – Mar 25Harvest (est.) May 10 – Jun 13 | Feb 28 – Mar 14Harvest (est.) Apr 29 – Jun 2 |
| Spinach · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 11 – Mar 25Harvest (est.) Apr 25 – May 24 | Feb 28 – Mar 14Harvest (est.) Apr 14 – May 13 |
| Basil · Start indoors4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Radishes · Direct sow2–5 weeks before last frost | Mar 18 – Apr 8Harvest (est.) Apr 7 – May 8 | Mar 7 – Mar 28Harvest (est.) Mar 27 – Apr 27 |
| Lettuce · Direct sow2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 25 – Apr 8Harvest (est.) May 24 – Jun 27 | Mar 14 – Mar 28Harvest (est.) May 13 – Jun 16 |
| Onions (sets/transplants) · Plant sets/transplants2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 25 – Apr 8Harvest (est.) Jun 18 – Aug 6 | Mar 14 – Mar 28Harvest (est.) Jun 7 – Jul 26 |
| Broccoli · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 25 – Apr 8Harvest (est.) May 14 – Jun 17 | Mar 14 – Mar 28Harvest (est.) May 3 – Jun 6 |
| Cabbage · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 25 – Apr 8Harvest (est.) Jun 3 – Jul 7 | Mar 14 – Mar 28Harvest (est.) May 23 – Jun 26 |
| Kale · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Marigolds · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 1 – Apr 22 | Mar 21 – Apr 11 |
| Zinnias · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 1 – Apr 22 | Mar 21 – Apr 11 |
| Potatoes · Plant seed potatoes1–2 weeks before last frost | Apr 8 – Apr 15Harvest (est.) Jul 2 – Aug 3 | Mar 28 – Apr 4Harvest (est.) Jun 21 – Jul 23 |
| Marigolds · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 22 – May 6 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Zinnias · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 22 – May 6 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Tomatoes · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jul 8 – Aug 4 | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) Jun 27 – Jul 24 |
| Beans (bush & pole) · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jun 13 – Jul 15 | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) Jun 2 – Jul 4 |
| Sweet corn · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jul 3 – Aug 4 | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) Jun 22 – Jul 24 |
| Cucumbers · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jun 8 – Jul 10 | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) May 28 – Jun 29 |
| Squash · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jun 8 – Jun 25 | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) May 28 – Jun 14 |
| Pumpkins · Direct sow1–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jul 18 – Aug 21 | Apr 18 – May 2Harvest (est.) Jul 7 – Aug 10 |
| Basil · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jun 10 – Jun 17 | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) May 30 – Jun 6 |
| Peppers · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jul 10 – Jul 27 | Apr 25 – May 2Harvest (est.) Jun 29 – Jul 16 |
| Eggplant · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jul 15 – Aug 11 | Apr 25 – May 2Harvest (est.) Jul 4 – Jul 31 |
| Broccoli · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 27 – Aug 10Harvest (est.) Sep 15 – Oct 19 | Aug 7 – Aug 21Harvest (est.) Sep 26 – Oct 30 |
| Cabbage · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 27 – Aug 10Harvest (est.) Oct 5 – Nov 8 | Aug 7 – Aug 21Harvest (est.) Oct 16 – Nov 19 |
| Kale · Fall sow8–10 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 10 – Aug 24Harvest (est.) Sep 29 – Nov 2 | Aug 21 – Sep 4Harvest (est.) Oct 10 – Nov 13 |
| Lettuce · Fall sow6–8 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 24 – Sep 7Harvest (est.) Oct 23 – Nov 26 | Sep 4 – Sep 18Harvest (est.) Nov 3 – Dec 7 |
| Spinach · Fall sow4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) | Aug 31 – Sep 21Harvest (est.) Oct 15 – Nov 20 | Sep 11 – Oct 2Harvest (est.) Oct 26 – Dec 1 |
| Radishes · Fall sow4–6 weeks before first fall frost | Sep 7 – Sep 21Harvest (est.) Sep 27 – Oct 21 | Sep 18 – Oct 2Harvest (est.) Oct 8 – Nov 1 |
| Daffodils · Fall plant bulbs4 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Sep 21 – Nov 2 | Oct 2 – Nov 13 |
| Tulips · Fall plant bulbs2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Oct 5 – Nov 16 | Oct 16 – Nov 27 |
| Garlic · Fall plant cloves2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) | Oct 5 – Nov 9Harvest (est.) Jun 12, 2027 – Aug 6, 2027 | Oct 16 – Nov 20Harvest (est.) Jun 23, 2027 – Aug 17, 2027 |
About the harvest estimates
Each expected harvest window adds the days to harvest from the sources below to the planting window. Days count from sowing seed (or planting seed potatoes, onion sets or garlic cloves) or, where marked, from setting transplants out; “Start indoors” rows have no harvest of their own. Harvest timing varies with variety and weather, and many crops keep producing for weeks after the first picking. For frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil) the window stops at the first fall frost: harvest may end early at the first fall frost. Flowers and bulbs show no harvest window, and kale has no sourced figure for spring transplants.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Growing notes for each crop
- Peas: Tolerates light frost; sow when soil is workable
- Spinach: Fall crop too: sow 4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech)
- Lettuce: Bolts in heat; succession sow; fall crop too
- Radishes: Fast (3–4 weeks); sow again for fall (see Fall sow dates)
- Kale: Fall crop too (see Fall sow dates); frost sweetens leaves
- Onions (sets/transplants): Choose day-length type suited to your latitude
- Potatoes: Soil at least 45°F (UMD); hill as plants grow
- Broccoli: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Cabbage: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Tomatoes: Wait for nights reliably above about 52°F (Colorado State)
- Peppers: Need warm soil: about 65°F is optimal for transplanting (UC ANR)
- Eggplant: Transplant after nights stay above 50°F (UMN)
- Beans (bush & pole): Seeds rot in cold, wet soil
- Sweet corn: Soil 60°F+ (UNH, UMN); plant in blocks for pollination
- Cucumbers: Frost-tender; watch for cucumber beetles
- Squash: Frost-tender; watch for squash vine borer
- Pumpkins: For October pumpkins, many sow in late May–June
- Basil: Very cold-sensitive
- Marigolds: Easy warm-season annual
- Zinnias: Easy warm-season annual
- Tulips: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule. In zone 9, chill bulbs 12–16 weeks first (Clemson)
- Daffodils: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule; slightly earlier than tulips is fine
- Garlic: Harvest the following early summer
Rhode Island USDA zone guides: Zone 6 planting guide Zone 7 planting guide
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Tips for Rhode Island gardeners
- Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — warm-season crops stall in cold soil. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps.
- Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before planting out (UC ANR, SDSU).
- Ask your local Cooperative Extension office about varieties and timing for your county; find it in the USDA NIFA land-grant university directory.
- Keep weeds down early — see our weed identification guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rhode Island?
Across the 81 Rhode Island ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) at the nearest station is Apr 22, and the middle 80% of ZIP codes range from Apr 11 to May 1. Check the average for your ZIP code, and remember frost can occur after the average date.
When can I plant tomatoes in Rhode Island?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after your average last frost, once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State). Typical dates: Zone 6 areas: Apr 29 – May 6; Zone 7 areas: Apr 18 – Apr 25.
What USDA zone is Rhode Island?
Rhode Island spans roughly USDA hardiness zones 6b–7b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
Other state planting calendars
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