Harvest Date Calculator
Estimate harvest date from planting date, crop type, and days to maturity.
Covers tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, and 20+ common vegetables.
Every food crop has a days-to-maturity rating — the number of days from transplant (or direct seed) to when the fruit or vegetable is ready for harvest. Knowing this lets you count forward from your planting date to predict your harvest window.
Formula: Estimated Harvest Date = Planting Date + Days to Maturity Frost-Safe Planting Date = Last Frost Date + Minimum Soil Temperature Lag Latest Planting Date = First Fall Frost Date − Days to Maturity − Buffer (7–14 days)
What each variable means:
- Days to Maturity — found on the seed packet; counts from transplant for starts, from germination for direct-seeded crops.
- Last Frost Date — the average date of the last spring frost in your climate zone (USDA zone map or local extension office).
- First Fall Frost Date — used to count backward to determine the latest safe planting date.
- Buffer Days — extra time added before first frost to ensure the crop matures safely.
Common days-to-maturity by crop:
- Radishes: 22–30 days | Lettuce: 45–60 days | Spinach: 40–50 days
- Bush beans: 50–60 days | Peas: 60–70 days | Cucumbers: 50–65 days
- Tomatoes (from transplant): 60–85 days | Peppers: 70–90 days
- Winter squash: 85–110 days | Pumpkins: 90–120 days | Watermelon: 75–95 days
Worked example: You transplant tomato seedlings on May 10. The variety says 75 days to maturity.
Harvest Date = May 10 + 75 days = July 24
For a fall planting: first frost expected October 15, pumpkins need 100 days + 10-day buffer. Latest planting = October 15 − 110 days = June 27
Tip: Maturity estimates assume average temperatures. Hot summers accelerate some crops; cool summers delay them by 10–20%.