Zucchini planting calendar
When to plant zucchini — pick your state
Zucchini timing swings hard by climate — choose your state for sow, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to its USDA zone and frost window.
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
West
Pacific
Common questions
When should I plant zucchini?
Zucchini is the fastest-maturing summer squash — soil must reach 18 °C (65 °F) before sowing or transplanting, as cold soil causes slow, weak germination and root rot. One or two plants per family member is usually sufficient; succession-sowing every 3-4 weeks extends harvest but rarely necessary given prolific production. Harvest fruit at 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) every 2-3 days to maintain plant productivity; leaving fruits to overgrow reduces total yield. Because the right window depends on your local frost dates, pick your US state above for a calendar with exact sow, transplant, and harvest dates.
Does the best time to plant zucchini vary by state?
Yes — planting dates swing by several weeks across the US because each state sits in a different USDA zone with its own frost window. Every state page here gives zucchini dates calibrated to that state's climate.
How are these zucchini planting dates calculated?
Each state's dates come from that state's dominant USDA hardiness zone and NOAA average frost dates, then adjusted for zucchini's cold tolerance and days to maturity.