Zone 5b planting calendar
A generous frost-free window for a full vegetable garden.
Coldest temps-15 to -10°F
Avg. last spring frostApr 30
Avg. first fall frostOct 5
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 5b →
The growing season in Zone 5b
Zone 5b has a coldest-winter range of -15 to -10°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 158 days — from the last spring frost around Apr 30 to the first fall frost around Oct 5. 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 Apr 30, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 158-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 5b
Every crop below is timed to Zone 5b'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 12–Mar 26 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Feb 26–Mar 12 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 21 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 24 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Apr 9–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Jul 27–Aug 10 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 28 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Apr 9–Apr 16 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 Direct sow outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 21 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Mar 19–Apr 16 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 31 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Jul 13–Aug 10 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 19–Apr 9 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Apr 9–May 7 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 31 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Mar 12–Mar 26 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Jun 29–Jul 20 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Mar 12–Mar 26 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors Apr 23–May 7 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Feb 19–Mar 5 Transplant outdoors Apr 2–Apr 16 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 27–Aug 10 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Sep 7 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 21 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 21 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 21 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Sep 7 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Feb 19–Mar 5 Transplant outdoors Apr 2–Apr 16 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 24 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 24 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Direct sow outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Feb 19–Mar 5 Transplant outdoors Apr 23–May 7 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Jul 13–Aug 10 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 31 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Apr 9–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 31 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Jul 27–Aug 10 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors May 14–May 28 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Apr 2–Apr 16 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 24 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Feb 19–Mar 5 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 28 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Feb 19–Mar 5 Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 2–Apr 16 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 21 Direct sow outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 21 Direct sow outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Mar 12–Mar 26 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Apr 2–Apr 16 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 26–Apr 9 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 26–Apr 9 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Mar 26–Apr 9 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Mar 19–Apr 9 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 19–Apr 9 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 21 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 19–Apr 9 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Feb 19–Mar 5 Transplant outdoors Apr 2–Apr 16 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 24 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 19–Apr 16 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–Apr 23 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 24 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Mar 19–Apr 2 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |