When to plant hostas
Plant hostas between 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the last spring frost in spring, or 4–6 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. That works out to zone 5b (late April to mid May), zone 7a (early April to late April) and zone 9a (mid February to mid March).
Hostas planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | May 1 – May 29 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
| 4b | Apr 29 – May 27 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| 5a | Apr 27 – May 25 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
| 5b | Apr 21 – May 19 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| 6a | Apr 16 – May 14 | Sep 3 – Sep 17 |
| 6b | Apr 10 – May 8 | Sep 7 – Sep 21 |
| 7a | Apr 1 – Apr 29 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| 7b | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| 8a | Mar 13 – Apr 10 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| 8b | Mar 2 – Mar 30 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| 9a | Feb 16 – Mar 16 | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| 9b | Jan 21 – Feb 18 | Oct 29 – Nov 12 |
How to plant hostas
| Plant as | divisions or potted plants |
|---|---|
| Depth | Crown at soil level |
| Spacing | 1–4 ft |
| Light | Shade to part shade |
| Time to bloom | 1–2 years |
| Hardiness | Perennial in zones 3–9 |
Spring, as shoots emerge, is the easiest time to plant or divide hostas.
Slugs and deer are the main problems.
Water deeply in the first season.
When to expect flowers from hostas
Grown for foliage; cut flower stalks after bloom if you prefer.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More flowers to plant
Begonias · Coleus · Marigolds · Zinnias · Sunflowers · Cosmos · Mums · Lantana