Zone 5a planting calendar
Classic temperate garden zone; most common crops grow well with transplants.
Coldest temps-20 to -15°F
Avg. last spring frostMay 5
Avg. first fall frostOct 1
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 5a →
The growing season in Zone 5a
Zone 5a has a coldest-winter range of -20 to -15°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 149 days — from the last spring frost around May 5 to the first fall frost around Oct 1. That is a moderate season that comfortably suits most vegetables, with time for a spring and a fall planting of the cool-season crops.
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 5, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 149-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 5a
Every crop below is timed to Zone 5a'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 Mar 17–Mar 31 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Mar 3–Mar 17 Transplant outdoors May 19–May 26 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 20 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Jul 23–Aug 6 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors May 5–Jun 2 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Apr 14–Apr 21 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 Direct sow outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 26 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 27 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Jul 9–Aug 6 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 14 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–May 12 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 27 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Mar 17–Mar 31 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 25–Jul 16 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Mar 17–Mar 31 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Sep 3–Sep 17 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Jul 23–Aug 6 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Sep 3 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 26 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors May 19–May 26 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 26 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 26 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Sep 3 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 20 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 20 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Jul 9–Aug 6 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 27 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 27 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Jul 23–Aug 6 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors May 19–Jun 2 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 20 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors May 19–Jun 2 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Transplant outdoors May 19–May 26 Direct sow outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Transplant outdoors May 19–May 26 Direct sow outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Mar 17–Mar 31 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 31–Apr 14 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 31–Apr 14 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Mar 31–Apr 14 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 14 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 14 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 26 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 14 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 20 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 28 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 20 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 19 |