USDA Hardiness Zone 4B includes parts of Iowa, Michigan, southern Wisconsin, and upstate New York, with average annual minimum temperatures between -25°F and -20°F. Frost-free days span approximately 110 days from the last spring frost on May 28 to the first fall frost on Sep 15. This slightly longer frost-free stretch compared to Zone 4A opens the door to longer-season crops like winter squash and sweet corn. A late-spring cold snap is still common, so hardening off transplants and watching short-term forecasts remains essential. To find your USDA zone by zip code, use our free planting calendar. Browse individual plant guides for detailed growing instructions, or explore how USDA zones work to better understand your growing conditions.
Zone 4B Planting Guide
Last Spring Frost
May 28
First Fall Frost
Sep 15
Growing Season
110 days
Filterable list of 100 vegetables, herbs, and flowers for Zone 4B. Each crop links to its plant page for planting dates.
Browse all 100 Zone 4B plant guides →
Jump directly to the detailed growing guide for any plant in Zone 4B.
Vegetables
Herbs
Flowers
Growing guides for Zone 4B
Hand-picked posts from the GardeningByZone blog that apply to your zone.
Printable planting calendar and worksheet
Two PDFs for the Midwest region, to print at home.
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When to plant vegetables outdoors, state by state, from each state's own extension service. IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI · Zones 3a through 8a. Printable PDF.
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Lay out beds, plan crop rotation and record planting dates, with a crop reference for the Midwest region. Printable PDF.
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