Zone 2b planting calendar
Short, cold season. Start warm crops indoors early and choose short-maturity varieties.
Coldest temps-45 to -40°F
Avg. last spring frostMay 30
Avg. first fall frostSep 1
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 2b →
The growing season in Zone 2b
Zone 2b has a coldest-winter range of -45 to -40°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 94 days — from the last spring frost around May 30 to the first fall frost around Sep 1. That is a short season — lean on cold-hardy crops and quick-maturing varieties, and give tender, long-season crops a generous indoor head start so they can finish in time.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after May 30, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 94-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 2b
Every crop below is timed to Zone 2b's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Apr 11–Apr 25 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Mar 28–Apr 11 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors May 2–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 21 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors May 9–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jun 23–Jul 7 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 27 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors May 9–May 16 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 20 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Apr 18–May 16 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 28 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jun 9–Jul 7 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Apr 18–May 9 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors May 9–Jun 6 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 28 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Apr 11–Apr 25 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 Direct sow outdoors May 26–Jun 16 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Apr 11–Apr 25 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors May 23–Jun 6 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Apr 4 Transplant outdoors May 2–May 16 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Aug 4–Aug 18 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors May 2–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jun 23–Jul 7 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors May 2–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Aug 4 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 20 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 20 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 20 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors May 2–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Aug 4 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Apr 4 Transplant outdoors May 2–May 16 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors May 2–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 21 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors May 2–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 21 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Direct sow outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Apr 4 Transplant outdoors May 23–Jun 6 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jun 9–Jul 7 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors May 2–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 28 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors May 9–May 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 28 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jun 23–Jul 7 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 27 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors May 2–May 16 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 21 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Apr 4 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 27 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Apr 4 Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors May 2–May 16 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 20 Direct sow outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 20 Direct sow outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Apr 11–Apr 25 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors May 2–May 16 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 25–May 9 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 25–May 9 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Apr 25–May 9 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Apr 18–May 9 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 18–May 9 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 20 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Apr 18–May 9 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Apr 4 Transplant outdoors May 2–May 16 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 21 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Apr 18–May 16 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors May 2–May 23 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 21 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Apr 18–May 2 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |