Planting time is now if you live in USDA Hardiness Zone 4.  Zone 4 includes cities like Minneapolis/St. Paul, as well as northern Iowa, Nebraska and Montana.  For the most part this region has only a spring planting season, but a few fast-growing crops may be planted again at the end of summer for an early fall harvest.

The last average frost date in Zone 4 is between May 1 and May 30. Start plants indoors 6 weeks prior to the beginning of May, but do not transplant frost-tender plants until all threat of frost has passed. Use common sense as well, if it seems unseasonably cold for April and May, wait until temperatures warm up before you start planting outdoors.

What to plant and when in Zone 4 (adapted from thevegetablegarden.info):

—Crop  Type —

–Days to–   Maturity

—Planting—   Dates

Asparagus	2nd season	Apr 15 – May 1
Bean, bush	50-60	May 15 – Jul 1
Bean, pole	65-75	May 15 – Jul 1
Bean, lima	65-75	May 15
Beet	55-65	May 15 – Jun 10
Broccoli	60-80	Apr 15 – Jul 1
Cabbage	65-80	Apr 1 – May 1
Chard, Swiss	50-60	May 1
Carrot	70-80	Apr 15 – Jun 15
Cauliflower	55-60	Apr 15 or Jun 1
Collards	55-70	Apr 15
Celery	112	May 15
Cucumber	60-65	May 1 – Jun 15
Eggplant	75-90	Jun 1
Endive  Garlic Horseradish	50-70  100-120 180	Apr 15  Oct 1 – Nov 1 Apr 15 – May 1
Kohlrabi	50-70	Apr 1 – 15
Kale  Lettuce, leaf Lettuce, head	55-75  45 60-85	Apr 15 – May 15  Apr 15 – June 15; Aug 1 – 15 Apr 15 – May 1
Muskmelon	85-90	May 15 – Jun 1
Okra	55-60	Jun 1
Onion	100-120	Apr 15
Peas, garden  Parsley	60-80  75	Apr 10 – May 15  Apr 15 – May 1
Parsnips	100-130	May 1 – 15
Pepper	65-80	Jun 1
Potato, Irish	70-90	Apr 15 – Jun 1
Potato, sweet  Pumpkin	90-150  85-120	Jun 1  May 10 – Jun 1
Radish  Rhubarb Rutabaga	25-30  1 yr. 80-100	Apr 10 – Jun 1; Aug 1-15  Apr 15 – May 1 May 15 – Jun 15
Spinach	40-45	Apr 15; Aug 1 – 15
Squash, bush	50-55	May 10 – Jun 1
Squash, winter  Sweet corn	85-90  65-70	May 10 – Jun 1  May 10 – Jul 1	-
Tomato	70-85	Apr 1 – 15; May 15 – 30
Turnip	45-65	Apr 15 or Aug 1
Watermelon	80-90	May 15 – Jun 1

 

Find more planting schedules by Zone>>>