In Burlington, the average last spring frost is May 2 and the average first fall frost is Oct 14, a growing season of about 165 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 21 and move them outside from May 16. Plant garlic Oct 21 to Oct 28, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Burlington at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 2 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 14 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 165 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Essex Junction 1 N, VT; Burlington Intl AP, VT; and Willsboro 1 N, NY, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Burlington this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Burlington in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 21.
What to plant in Burlington this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 21
What to plant in Burlington this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 21
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 21
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 21
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 21
- Start kale indoors: Mar 28
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 28
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 28
Coming up in early April: start basil indoors (Apr 4), direct sow spinach (Apr 11), direct sow peas (Apr 11) and direct sow radishes (Apr 11).
What to plant in Burlington this month (April)
- Start basil indoors: Apr 4
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 11
- Direct sow peas: Apr 11
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 11
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 18
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 18
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 18
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 18
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 18
- Direct sow beets: Apr 25
- Transplant kale: Apr 25
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 25
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 25
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 25
Coming up in early May: transplant onions (May 2), transplant cucumbers (May 9), transplant zucchini (May 9), transplant winter squash (May 9) and direct sow beans (May 9).
What to plant in Burlington this month (May)
- Transplant onions: May 2
- Transplant cucumbers: May 9
- Transplant zucchini: May 9
- Transplant winter squash: May 9
- Direct sow beans: May 9
- Transplant tomatoes: May 16
- Transplant peppers: May 16
- Transplant eggplant: May 16
- Transplant basil: May 16
What to plant in Burlington this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Burlington in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 5.
What to plant in Burlington this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Burlington in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 5.
What to plant in Burlington this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 5
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 5
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 19
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 26
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 9).
What to plant in Burlington this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 9
What to plant in Burlington this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 21 to Oct 28
What to plant in Burlington this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Burlington in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 21.
What to plant in Burlington this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Burlington in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 21.
Burlington planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 21 | Transplant May 16 | From Aug 2 |
| Peppers | Mar 21 | Transplant May 16 | From Jul 27 |
| Eggplant | Mar 21 | Transplant May 16 | From Jul 30 |
| Basil | Apr 4 | Transplant May 16 | From Jun 27 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 21 | Transplant May 2 | From Aug 10 |
| Lettuce | Mar 21 | Transplant Apr 18Fall: direct sow Aug 19 | From May 28Fall: from Sep 28 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 11Fall: direct sow Aug 26 | From May 21Fall: from Oct 5 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 11Fall: direct sow Aug 5 | From Jun 10Fall: from Oct 4 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 11Fall: direct sow Sep 9 | From May 6Fall: from Oct 4 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 18 | From Jun 27 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 25 | From Jun 19 |
| Kale | Mar 28 | Transplant Apr 25Fall: direct sow Aug 5 | From Jun 19Fall: from Sep 29 |
| Broccoli | Mar 28 | Transplant Apr 25 | From Jun 29 |
| Cabbage | Mar 28 | Transplant Apr 25 | From Jul 4 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 18 | Transplant May 9 | From Jul 3 |
| Zucchini | Apr 18 | Transplant May 9 | From Jun 28 |
| Winter squash | Apr 18 | Transplant May 9 | From Aug 7 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 9 | From Jul 3 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 25 | From Jul 14 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 21 to Oct 28 | Around Jul 25 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Burlington's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Burlington
Plant garlic Oct 21 to Oct 28. That is one to two weeks after Burlington's average first fall frost of Oct 14, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 25 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Burlington.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Burlington:
- Peas: sow Aug 5, ready from about Oct 4
- Kale: sow Aug 5, ready from about Sep 29
- Lettuce: sow Aug 19, ready from about Sep 28
- Spinach: sow Aug 26, ready from about Oct 5
- Radishes: sow Sep 9, ready from about Oct 4
Nearby planting calendars
Burlington planting questions
When is the last frost in Burlington?
The average last spring frost in Burlington is May 2, and the average first fall frost is Oct 14, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Burlington?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 21, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 16, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Burlington in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 21 to Oct 28. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 5, lettuce around Aug 19, spinach around Aug 26 and radishes around Sep 9.