Gardening in USDA Zone 3
Your complete guide to growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits in Zone 3. Find the best varieties for your climate and get zone-specific planting dates.
Last Frost
May 15
Safe to plant after
First Frost
September 15
Harvest before
Growing Season
120 days
Varieties
839
across 28 categories
Growing Season
Plant after May 15 · Harvest before September 15
Zone 3 Coverage
What to Grow in Zone 3
Best Alliums for Zone 3
35 varieties
Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives.
Best Beans & Legumes for Zone 3
58 varieties
Bush beans, pole beans, lentils, and more. Easy-to-grow protein for every garden.
Best Berries & Fruits for Zone 3
12 varieties
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and small fruits for the home garden.
Best Brassicas for Zone 3
49 varieties
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi.
Best Corn for Zone 3
31 varieties
Sweet corn, popcorn, flour corn, and ornamental varieties.
Best Cucumbers for Zone 3
30 varieties
Slicing, pickling, and specialty cucumbers for every garden size.
Best Eggplants for Zone 3
30 varieties
Globe, Japanese, Thai, and specialty eggplant varieties.
Best Flowers for Zone 3
53 varieties
Annual, perennial, and cut flowers to beautify your garden year-round.
Best Fruit Trees for Zone 3
3 varieties
Apple, pear, cherry, peach, and citrus trees for the home orchard.
Best Grasses & Bamboo for Zone 3
6 varieties
Ornamental grasses, lawn grasses, and bamboo varieties for structure and movement.
Best Ground Covers for Zone 3
11 varieties
Low-growing plants that spread to cover soil, reduce weeds, and prevent erosion.
Best Herbs for Zone 3
21 varieties
Culinary and medicinal herbs. Growing guides from basil to thyme.
Best Lettuce & Salad Greens for Zone 3
52 varieties
Romaine, butterhead, looseleaf, and specialty salad greens for every season.
Best Melons for Zone 3
38 varieties
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and specialty melons.
Best Microgreens for Zone 3
36 varieties
Nutrient-dense seedlings harvested in 7-14 days. The fastest crop you can grow.
Best Native Wildflowers for Zone 3
14 varieties
Region-native wildflowers that support pollinators and require minimal maintenance.
Best Nut Trees for Zone 3
4 varieties
Pecan, walnut, almond, hazelnut, and chestnut trees for home orchards.
Best Ornamental Trees for Zone 3
13 varieties
Flowering and decorative trees for landscaping. Dogwoods, magnolias, Japanese maples, and more.
Best Peas for Zone 3
35 varieties
Snap peas, snow peas, shelling peas, and pea shoots.
Best Peppers for Zone 3
71 varieties
Hot peppers, sweet peppers, and everything in between. Find your perfect heat level.
Best Root Vegetables for Zone 3
43 varieties
Carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and other underground crops.
Best Roses for Zone 3
3 varieties
Hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers, shrub roses, and old garden varieties.
Best Shade Trees for Zone 3
17 varieties
Large canopy trees for shade, privacy, and property value. Oaks, maples, elms, and more.
Best Shrubs & Hedges for Zone 3
13 varieties
Flowering and evergreen shrubs for borders, hedges, and foundation plantings.
Best Squash & Cucumbers for Zone 3
51 varieties
Summer squash, winter squash, zucchini, and cucumbers.
Best Tomatoes for Zone 3
88 varieties
From heirloom beefsteaks to cherry varieties. Growing guides for every tomato type.
Best Tropical Plants for Zone 3
1 variety
Exotic tropical plants including palms, gingers, hibiscus, and bird of paradise.
Best Vines & Climbers for Zone 3
21 varieties
Climbing plants for trellises, arbors, and walls. Clematis, wisteria, jasmine, and more.
Monthly Planting Guides — Zone 3
See what to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each month.