Douglas Vegetable Planting Calendar | Urban Farmer

Grow with confidence

Douglas Vegetable Planting Calendar

Use Douglas climate patterns to see this month’s garden tasks and crop-by-crop planting windows for southeast Wyoming the higher southern Front Range near 6,000 feet.

Official 2023 USDA Wyoming Plant Hardiness Zone Map
USDA Zones 5aMost Douglas neighborhoods fall in USDA Zones 5a
Last spring frostTypical date: May 14
First fall frostTypical date: September 24
Cool season

Plant through winter

Broccoli, lettuce, peas, carrots, radishes and leafy greens perform best from fall through early spring.

Warm season

Use spring warmth

Use the short warm season efficiently: start tender crops indoors, wait for warm soil before planting outside, and sow hardy roots and greens again for fall harvests.

Late summer

Restart the cool garden

Begin fall brassicas indoors and prepare beds for direct-sown roots and greens as temperatures moderate.

Local dates, crop by crop

Douglas Planting Dates

Choose a season and search for a crop to see when to start seeds indoors, move plants outside, direct sow and finish planting in the Douglas area.

Douglas–Converse CountyUSDA Zones 5a · typical last frost May 14 · typical first frost September 24

Spring planting

Planting Dates for Spring

Dates use Douglas valley-floor climate timing. Intense summer heat, dry air and nearby foothill elevation can change planting and harvest windows. Always check soil temperature and the 10-day forecast before planting.

Crop Start seeds indoors Transplant or plant outdoors Direct sow outdoors Last recommended planting Shop

Use the dates with confidence

How to Read This Calendar

1

Start indoors

Sow in trays under strong light. The window is timed so seedlings reach transplant size without becoming root-bound.

2

Transplant or plant

Harden seedlings off for about a week. Perennial crowns, sets and seed potatoes are included in this column.

3

Direct sow

Plant seed directly into prepared soil. Cool-season crops can begin before frost; heat-loving crops need warm soil.

4

Last planting

This is the practical end of the selected window—not a guarantee. Variety maturity and unusual weather can move it.

Keep soil working after harvest

Fall Cover Crop Planting Calendar

These windows are calculated from this city’s approximate first fall frost. Sow into an open bed after harvesting vegetables, then follow the selected crop’s product directions.

Cover crop Best for Approx. planting window Winter behavior
Buckwheat Quick biomass · pollinators Jul 17–Jul 31 Frost-killed
Oats Biomass · nutrient capture Jul 17–Aug 14 Usually winter-killed
Field Peas Nitrogen · cool-season growth Jul 17–Aug 14 Often winter-killed
Daikon Radish Compaction · nutrient capture Jul 17–Aug 14 Usually winter-killed
Crimson Clover Nitrogen · pollinators Jul 31–Aug 14 Overwinters where adapted
Annual Ryegrass Roots · erosion control Jul 31–Aug 28 Manage before seed set
Hairy Vetch Nitrogen · spring biomass Aug 14–Aug 28 Overwinters in many areas
Cereal Rye Erosion · weeds · biomass Aug 14–Sep 11 Very winter-hardy
Winter Wheat Erosion · nutrient capture Aug 14–Sep 11 Winter-hardy

Planting windows are planning estimates. Check the product page for seeding rate, regional adaptation, inoculation needs, and termination timing.

Douglas soil checkpoints

Let Soil Temperature Be the Final Check

Calendar dates start the conversation. A simple soil thermometer helps confirm that the seedbed is actually ready.

40–50°FPeas, spinach, radishes and other hardy crops
55–60°FBeans, corn and many moderately warm crops
65°F+Cucumbers, squash, melons, okra and other heat lovers
Current Douglas soil temperatureLoading…Modeled near 2½ inches deep
Checking current conditions

Use this modeled reading as a local reference, then confirm conditions in your own garden with a soil thermometer.

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Selected for the current planting window

Seeds to Plant Now

References: Wyoming State University Extension Vegetable Planting Guide, Sample Planting Guide for Raised-Bed Gardens, and Vegetable Gardening in the Mountains; USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map; and Open-Meteo modeled soil-temperature data.