Zone 5a planting calendar
In zone 5a the last spring frost usually comes around May 3 and the first fall frost around October 5: about 153 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.
Typical frost dates
- Last spring frost
- May 3 Middle half of the zone: Apr 30 – May 13. Over by May 17 in 9 of 10 years.
- First fall frost
- October 5 Middle half of the zone: Oct 1 – Oct 10. After Sep 22 in 9 of 10 years.
- Frost-free season
- about 153 days
- Coldest winter nights
- -20 to -15 °F
- ZIP codes in the zone
- 2,393
Most of its weather stations are in Iowa, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan and 11 more.
Places in zone 5a
Zones measure winter cold, so frost dates still vary from place to place. A few weather stations across the zone:
| Place | State | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Iowa | Apr 30 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Lakefield | Minnesota | May 2 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Darlington | Wisconsin | May 3 | Oct 4 | 153 |
| Montrose | South Dakota | May 3 | Oct 4 | 153 |
| Oakdale | Nebraska | May 4 | Oct 4 | 153 |
| Guernsey | Wyoming | May 7 | Oct 6 | 152 |
| Yellowtail | Montana | May 7 | Oct 5 | 151 |
| Cheboygan | Michigan | May 11 | Oct 11 | 152 |
Month by month in zone 5a
Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.
January
A quiet month: order seeds and sketch the beds.
February
March
Start indoors
- Tomatoes Mar 8–22
- Tomatillos Mar 8–22
- Cabbage Mar 8–22
- Broccoli Mar 8–22
- Cauliflower Mar 8–22
- Chives Mar 8–22
- Basil Mar 22 – Apr 5
- Marigolds Mar 22 – Apr 5
April
Sow outside
- Shallots (shallot sets) Apr 5–19
- Collard greens Apr 5–26
- Kohlrabi Apr 5–26
- Turnips Apr 5–26
- Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Apr 5–26
- Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Apr 5–26
- Mustard greens Apr 5 – May 3
- Potatoes (seed potatoes) Apr 5 – May 3
- Lettuce Apr 5 – May 17
- Green onions Apr 5 – May 17
- Bok choy Apr 12 – May 3
- Parsnips Apr 12 – May 10
- Carrots Apr 12 – May 17
- Beets Apr 12 – May 17
- Cilantro Apr 19 – May 17
- Swiss chard Apr 19 – May 24
- Dill Apr 26 – May 24
Plant out
May
Sow outside
- Sunflowers May 3–31
- Zucchini May 10–24
- Zinnias May 10–24
- Nasturtiums May 10–24
- Cosmos May 10–24
- Cucumbers May 10–31
- Winter squash May 10–31
- Pumpkins May 10–31
- Green beans May 10–31
- Sweet corn May 10–31
- Watermelons May 17–31
- Cantaloupes May 17–31
- Okra May 17 – Jun 7
Plant out
- Rosemary May 3–24
- Lavender May 3–24
- Tomatoes May 10–24
- Tomatillos May 10–24
- Celery May 10–24
- Marigolds May 10–24
- Peppers May 17–31
- Hot peppers May 17–31
- Eggplant May 17–31
- Basil May 17–31
- Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) May 24 – Jun 14
Sow for fall
- Brussels sprouts May 11 – Jun 1
Start picking
- Spinach May 1 – Jun 8
- Rhubarb May 3 – Jun 28
- Mustard greens May 5 – Jun 17
- Chives May 12 – Oct 27
- Turnips May 15 – Jun 25
- Lettuce May 15 – Jul 16
- Peas May 16 – Jun 21
- Kale May 16 – Nov 16
- Mint May 19 – Nov 3
- Kohlrabi May 20 – Jun 25
- Bok choy May 22 – Jun 27
- Collard greens May 30 – Nov 16
- Strawberries May 31 – Jun 28
June
Sow for fall
- Cabbage Jun 8 – Jul 6
- Cauliflower Jun 15 – Jul 6
- Broccoli Jun 15 – Jul 13
Start picking
- Beets Jun 1 – Jul 16
- Cilantro Jun 3 – Jul 26
- Parsley Jun 3 – Nov 16
- Thyme Jun 3 – Nov 16
- Cabbage Jun 4 – Jul 18
- Green onions Jun 4 – Jul 31
- Dill Jun 5 – Jul 31
- Broccoli Jun 6 – Jul 22
- Swiss chard Jun 8 – Oct 19
- Marigolds (in bloom) Jun 9 – Oct 5
- Oregano Jun 10 – Oct 28
- Carrots Jun 11 – Aug 5
- Cauliflower Jun 13 – Jul 22
- Basil Jun 16 – Oct 5
- Potatoes Jun 19 – Aug 31
- Zucchini Jun 24 – Oct 5
- Nasturtiums (in bloom) Jun 24 – Oct 5
- Sage Jun 25 – Nov 16
- Green beans Jun 29 – Aug 10
- Cucumbers Jun 29 – Oct 5
July
Sow for fall
- Cucumbers Jul 6–20
- Green beans Jul 6–20
- Zucchini Jul 13–27
- Peas Jul 13–27
- Carrots Jul 13 – Aug 3
- Beets Jul 13 – Aug 3
- Kale Jul 13 – Aug 10
- Collard greens Jul 13 – Aug 10
- Green onions Jul 20 – Aug 3
- Cilantro Jul 27 – Aug 10
- Lettuce Jul 27 – Aug 17
- Kohlrabi Jul 27 – Aug 17
- Bok choy Jul 27 – Aug 17
- Spinach Jul 27 – Aug 24
- Turnips Jul 27 – Aug 24
Start picking
- Lavender Jul 2 – Aug 27
- Rosemary Jul 2 – Oct 19
- Shallots Jul 4 – Aug 7
- Onions Jul 4 – Aug 17
- Garlic Jul 5–26
- Okra Jul 6 – Oct 5
- Tomatoes Jul 9 – Oct 5
- Zinnias (in bloom) Jul 9 – Oct 5
- Cosmos (in bloom) Jul 9 – Oct 5
- Leeks Jul 11 – Nov 16
- Sunflowers (in bloom) Jul 12 – Sep 8
- Sweet corn Jul 14 – Aug 29
- Tomatillos Jul 14 – Sep 22
- Peppers Jul 16 – Oct 5
- Eggplant Jul 21 – Oct 5
- Cantaloupes Jul 26 – Aug 30
- Watermelons Jul 26 – Sep 8
- Hot peppers Jul 26 – Oct 5
- Winter squash Jul 29 – Oct 5
August
Sow for fall
- Arugula Aug 3–31
- Mustard greens Aug 3–31
- Radishes Aug 17 – Sep 7
Start picking
- Celery Aug 3 – Sep 28
- Pumpkins Aug 8 – Oct 5
- Sweet potatoes Aug 22 – Oct 5
- Green beans Aug 25 – Oct 5
September
Sow for fall
- Garlic (garlic cloves) Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start picking
- Beets Sep 1 – Oct 6
- Arugula Sep 2 – Oct 10
- Mustard greens Sep 2 – Oct 15
- Cabbage Sep 4 – Nov 1
- Bok choy Sep 5 – Oct 11
- Spinach Sep 5 – Oct 13
- Lettuce Sep 5 – Oct 17
- Turnips Sep 5 – Oct 23
- Peas Sep 6 – Oct 5
- Cauliflower Sep 6 – Oct 19
- Broccoli Sep 6 – Oct 29
- Brussels sprouts Sep 8 – Nov 16
- Kohlrabi Sep 10 – Oct 16
- Cilantro Sep 10 – Oct 19
- Radishes Sep 11 – Oct 7
- Carrots Sep 11 – Oct 23
- Green onions Sep 18 – Oct 30
- Parsnips Sep 21 – Nov 16
October
Nothing new to start; keep picking what is still growing, then clear finished beds and spread compost.
November
Nothing to sow; clean and store the tools and note what grew well.
December
A month to rest the soil and plan next year.