Spread out through Southern Alaska, the Midwest, New England and even parts of Wyoming and Colorado, Zone 4 has an annual minimum temperature of -20ºF and a relatively short growing season from April through October. Because the last frost isn’t until mid-June, it’s typically necessary to start veggie seedlings indoors six weeks prior. Try our CowPots Biodegradable Pots for a seamless transition from sprout to outdoor planting.
Despite the cold weather, gardens in Zone 4 can accommodate a wealth of hardy veggies, fruit trees, and even cactus if you know what to look for. We offer a variety of Raised Beds to help ensure plants stay healthy, vibrant, and protected so that all your careful planning doesn’t go to waste.
States in Zone 4: Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
Veggies requiring a longer growing time should be planted in late spring once the threat of frost passes. Since weather can vary so much throughout the season in Zone 4, many veggies can benefit from succession planting throughout the warmer months to help ensure a plentiful harvest. It’s also a good time to get perennial and annual flowers into the ground, as well as to establish fruit trees.
Recommended Plants:
Vegetables & Herbs
Fruits & Berries
Flowers
Trees & Shrubs
Summers in Zone 4 are great for continuing to rotate viable crops in as well as planting new veggies with a shorter growth period that need the warmer soil to survive. It’s even possible to establish more exotic plants in your garden like hardy, cold-resistant cactus that can withstand the upcoming frost with proper care.
Recommended Plants:
Vegetables & Herbs
Fruits & Berries
Flowers
Trees & Shrubs
While the majority of harvesting will be done by mid-September, you can still get some hardy, quick-growing veggies into the ground that will continue to grow until a first hard freeze. The start of the season’s also a good time to plant cold-resistant flowers that require some chill time before they bloom next spring and summer.
Recommended Plants:
Vegetables & Herbs
Fruits & Berries
Flowers
Trees & Shrubs
Since winters in Zone 4 are so harsh, the season remains a dormant period in which it’s important to protect root systems and any exposed, vulnerable foliage with proper coverage.