When to plant radish by zone
Raphanus sativus is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: direct sow from 5 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 2–6 weeks before the first fall frost.
Radish planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Sep 15 – Mar 15.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 12 | Jul 16 – Aug 13 |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 12 | Jul 16 – Aug 13 |
| 2a | May 21 | — | — | Apr 16 – Jun 4 | Jul 21 – Aug 18 |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | — | Apr 15 – Jun 3 | Jul 23 – Aug 20 |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | — | Apr 30 – Jun 18 | Jul 26 – Aug 23 |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | — | Apr 19 – Jun 7 | Aug 7 – Sep 4 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | — | Apr 7 – May 26 | Aug 16 – Sep 13 |
| 4b | May 5 | — | — | Mar 31 – May 19 | Aug 23 – Sep 20 |
| 5a | May 4 | — | — | Mar 30 – May 18 | Aug 22 – Sep 19 |
| 5b | May 4 | — | — | Mar 30 – May 18 | Aug 28 – Sep 25 |
| 6a | May 4 | — | — | Mar 30 – May 18 | Aug 28 – Sep 25 |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | — | Mar 22 – May 10 | Sep 9 – Oct 7 |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | — | Mar 18 – May 6 | Sep 9 – Oct 7 |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | — | Mar 6 – Apr 24 | Sep 15 – Oct 13 |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | — | Feb 25 – Apr 15 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | — | Feb 15 – Apr 5 | Sep 29 – Oct 27 |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | — | Feb 4 – Mar 25 | Oct 8 – Nov 5 |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | — | Jan 8 – Feb 26 | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | — | Dec 22 – Feb 9 | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | — | Dec 23 – Feb 10 | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| 11a | Rare | Sep 15 – Mar 15 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Sep 15 – Mar 15 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Sep 15 – Mar 15 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Sep 15 – Mar 15 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Sep 15 – Mar 15 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Sep 15 – Mar 15 | |||
Growing tips
- The fastest crop in the garden — sow a short row every 10 days.
- Radishes turn pithy and hot in warm weather.
- Winter radishes (daikon) are sown in late summer.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Strawberry, Beets