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Zone 5b planting calendar and frost dates

In USDA hardiness zone 5b, the average last spring frost is May 5 and the average first fall frost is Oct 8, leaving about 156 frost-free days. To be 90% sure of no later frost, wait until about May 19 to plant tender crops. These are medians of 73 NOAA weather stations in zone 5b; their last-frost dates range from Apr 16 to Jun 21.

What to plant each month in zone 5b

February

Bell peppers (start indoors), Onions (start indoors), Lavender (start indoors), Begonias (start indoors), Coleus (start indoors), Foxglove (start indoors), Coneflowers (start indoors), Bee balm (start indoors)

March

Tomatoes (start indoors), Peas (plant), Lettuce (start indoors), Spinach (plant), Kale (start indoors), Kale (plant), Broccoli (start indoors), Cauliflower (start indoors), Cabbage (start indoors), Brussels sprouts (start indoors), Radishes (plant), Basil (start indoors), Sage (start indoors), Dahlias (start indoors), Caladiums (start indoors), Marigolds (start indoors)

April

Potatoes (plant), Watermelon (start indoors), Lettuce (plant), Broccoli (plant), Cauliflower (plant), Cabbage (plant), Brussels sprouts (plant), Carrots (plant), Beets (plant), Onions (plant), Asparagus (plant), Cilantro (plant), Strawberries (plant), Blueberries (plant), Blackberries (plant), Rose bushes (plant), Foxglove (plant), Hostas (plant), Wildflower seeds (plant)

May

Tomatoes (plant), Bell peppers (plant), Pumpkins (plant), Cucumbers (plant), Okra (plant), Zucchini (plant), Watermelon (plant), Green beans (plant), Sweet corn (plant), Sweet potatoes (plant), Basil (plant), Dill (plant), Sage (plant), Lavender (plant), Borage (plant), Catmint (plant), Gladiolus (plant), Dahlias (plant), Caladiums (plant), Begonias (plant), Coleus (plant), Marigolds (plant), Zinnias (plant), Sunflowers (plant), Cosmos (plant), Mums (plant), Lantana (plant), Hydrangeas (plant), Coneflowers (plant), Bee balm (plant), Sedum (plant), Jasmine (plant)

June

Brussels sprouts (plant for fall), Grass seed (plant)

July

Green beans (plant for fall), Peas (plant for fall), Kale (plant for fall), Broccoli (plant for fall), Cauliflower (plant for fall), Cabbage (plant for fall), Carrots (plant for fall), Beets (plant for fall), Lavender (plant for fall), Iris (plant)

August

Lettuce (plant for fall), Spinach (plant for fall), Radishes (plant for fall), Cilantro (plant for fall), Sage (plant for fall), Catmint (plant for fall), Strawberries (plant for fall), Blueberries (plant for fall), Mums (plant for fall), Hydrangeas (plant for fall), Rose bushes (plant for fall), Peonies (plant), Foxglove (plant for fall), Coneflowers (plant for fall), Bee balm (plant for fall), Hostas (plant for fall), Sedum (plant for fall), Grass seed (plant for fall)

September

Tulips (plant), Daffodils (plant)

October

Garlic (plant), Wildflower seeds (plant for fall)

Zone 5b planting dates for every plant

PlantStart indoorsPlant outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 10 – Mar 24May 12 – May 26–
Bell peppersFeb 24 – Mar 10May 19 – Jun 2–
Potatoes–Apr 7 – Apr 28–
Pumpkins–May 12 – May 26–
Cucumbers–May 12 – May 26–
Okra–May 19 – Jun 9–
Zucchini–May 12 – May 26–
WatermelonApr 7 – Apr 14May 19 – Jun 2–
Green beans–May 12 – May 26Jul 23 – Aug 6
Sweet corn–May 12 – May 26–
Sweet potatoes–May 26 – Jun 9–
Peas–Mar 24 – Apr 14Jul 16 – Aug 6
LettuceMar 24 – Apr 7Apr 7 – Apr 28Aug 13 – Sep 3
Spinach–Mar 24 – Apr 14Aug 13 – Sep 3
KaleMar 10 – Mar 24Mar 31 – Apr 21Jul 16 – Aug 6
BroccoliMar 10 – Mar 24Apr 14 – Apr 28Jul 9 – Jul 30
CauliflowerMar 10 – Mar 24Apr 21 – May 5Jul 9 – Jul 30
CabbageMar 10 – Mar 24Apr 7 – Apr 21Jul 2 – Jul 23
Brussels sproutsMar 10 – Mar 24Apr 14 – Apr 28Jun 18 – Jul 9
Carrots–Apr 14 – May 5Jul 16 – Jul 30
Beets–Apr 7 – Apr 28Jul 30 – Aug 13
Radishes–Mar 24 – Apr 21Aug 27 – Sep 10
OnionsFeb 24 – Mar 10Apr 7 – Apr 21–
Garlic––Oct 8 – Nov 5
Asparagus–Apr 7 – Apr 28–
BasilMar 10 – Mar 24May 12 – May 26–
Cilantro–Apr 21 – May 12Aug 13 – Sep 10
Dill–May 5 – May 19–
SageMar 10 – Mar 24May 5 – May 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
LavenderFeb 10 – Feb 24May 12 – Jun 2Jul 30 – Aug 13
Borage–May 5 – May 19–
Catmint–May 5 – May 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
Strawberries–Apr 7 – Apr 28Aug 27 – Sep 10
Blueberries–Apr 7 – Apr 28Aug 13 – Sep 10
Blackberries–Apr 7 – Apr 28–
Tulips––Sep 24 – Nov 5
Daffodils––Sep 10 – Oct 22
Gladiolus–May 5 – May 19–
DahliasMar 24 – Apr 7May 12 – May 26–
CaladiumsMar 24 – Apr 7May 26 – Jun 9–
BegoniasFeb 10 – Mar 10May 12 – May 26–
ColeusFeb 24 – Mar 10May 19 – Jun 2–
MarigoldsMar 10 – Mar 24May 5 – May 19–
Zinnias–May 12 – May 26–
Sunflowers–May 12 – May 26–
Cosmos–May 5 – May 19–
Mums–May 5 – May 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
Lantana–May 19 – Jun 2–
Hydrangeas–May 5 – May 19Aug 13 – Aug 27
Rose bushes–Apr 7 – May 5Aug 13 – Aug 27
Peonies––Aug 27 – Oct 8
Iris––Jul 30 – Aug 27
FoxgloveFeb 24 – Mar 10Apr 21 – May 12Aug 13 – Aug 27
ConeflowersFeb 24 – Mar 10May 5 – May 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
Bee balmFeb 24 – Mar 10May 5 – May 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
Hostas–Apr 21 – May 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Sedum–May 5 – May 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
Jasmine–May 19 – Jun 2–
Wildflower seeds–Apr 7 – Apr 28Oct 8 – Nov 19
Grass seed–Jun 2 – Jun 30Aug 6 – Aug 27

Places in zone 5b

Weather stations used for this zone include Akron Washington, CO; Alpena, MI; Alpena Wwtp, MI; Ames, IA; Anchorage, AK; Anchorage Lake Hood, AK; Aspen Pitkin, CO; Augusta, ME; Bennington Morse, VT; Boulder 14 W, CO; Bradford, PA; Broken Bow, NE; Brunswick, ME; Challis, ID; Champaign 9 Sw, IL; Cheyenne, WY; Chicago Aurora, IL; Concord, NH; Craig Moffat, CO; Davenport, IA; Des Moines, IA; Des Moines 17 E, IA; Elko, NV; Eureka, NV and 49 more.

Zone 5b frost dates by state: Alaska · Colorado · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New York · Pennsylvania · Utah · Vermont · Wisconsin · Wyoming

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