Zone 5b planting calendar
In zone 5b the last spring frost usually comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 10: about 161 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.
Typical frost dates
- Last spring frost
- May 1 Middle half of the zone: Apr 25 – May 10. Over by May 16 in 9 of 10 years.
- First fall frost
- October 10 Middle half of the zone: Oct 4 – Oct 16. After Sep 27 in 9 of 10 years.
- Frost-free season
- about 161 days
- Coldest winter nights
- -15 to -10 °F
- ZIP codes in the zone
- 2,865
Most of its weather stations are in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and New York and 18 more.
Places in zone 5b
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polo | Illinois | Apr 29 | Oct 7 | 161 |
| Clinton | Wisconsin | Apr 30 | Oct 10 | 161 |
| Leon | Iowa | Apr 30 | Oct 8 | 161 |
| Sterling | Colorado | Apr 30 | Oct 9 | 161 |
| Brady | Nebraska | May 2 | Oct 10 | 161 |
| Alcove | New York | May 3 | Oct 12 | 160 |
| Vernal | Utah | May 6 | Oct 7 | 153 |
| Harrisville | Michigan | May 8 | Oct 16 | 160 |
Month by month in zone 5b
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 6–20
- Tomatillos Mar 6–20
- Cabbage Mar 6–20
- Broccoli Mar 6–20
- Cauliflower Mar 6–20
- Chives Mar 6–20
- Basil Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Marigolds Mar 20 – Apr 3
April
Sow outside
- Shallots (shallot sets) Apr 3–17
- Collard greens Apr 3–24
- Kohlrabi Apr 3–24
- Turnips Apr 3–24
- Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Apr 3–24
- Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Apr 3–24
- Mustard greens Apr 3 – May 1
- Potatoes (seed potatoes) Apr 3 – May 1
- Lettuce Apr 3 – May 15
- Green onions Apr 3 – May 15
- Bok choy Apr 10 – May 1
- Parsnips Apr 10 – May 8
- Carrots Apr 10 – May 15
- Beets Apr 10 – May 15
- Cilantro Apr 17 – May 15
- Swiss chard Apr 17 – May 22
- Dill Apr 24 – May 22
Plant out
May
Sow outside
- Sunflowers May 1–29
- Zucchini May 8–22
- Zinnias May 8–22
- Nasturtiums May 8–22
- Cosmos May 8–22
- Cucumbers May 8–29
- Winter squash May 8–29
- Pumpkins May 8–29
- Green beans May 8–29
- Sweet corn May 8–29
- Watermelons May 15–29
- Cantaloupes May 15–29
- Okra May 15 – Jun 5
Plant out
- Rosemary May 1–22
- Lavender May 1–22
- Tomatoes May 8–22
- Tomatillos May 8–22
- Celery May 8–22
- Marigolds May 8–22
- Peppers May 15–29
- Hot peppers May 15–29
- Eggplant May 15–29
- Basil May 15–29
- Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) May 22 – Jun 12
Sow for fall
- Brussels sprouts May 16 – Jun 6
Start picking
- Rhubarb May 1 – Jun 26
- Mustard greens May 3 – Jun 15
- Chives May 10 – Oct 25
- Turnips May 13 – Jun 23
- Lettuce May 13 – Jul 14
- Peas May 14 – Jun 19
- Kale May 14 – Nov 21
- Mint May 17 – Nov 1
- Kohlrabi May 18 – Jun 23
- Bok choy May 20 – Jun 25
- Collard greens May 28 – Nov 21
- Strawberries May 29 – Jun 26
- Beets May 30 – Jul 14
June
Sow for fall
- Cabbage Jun 13 – Jul 11
- Cauliflower Jun 20 – Jul 11
- Broccoli Jun 20 – Jul 18
Start picking
- Cilantro Jun 1 – Jul 24
- Parsley Jun 1 – Nov 16
- Thyme Jun 1 – Nov 16
- Cabbage Jun 2 – Jul 16
- Green onions Jun 2 – Jul 29
- Dill Jun 3 – Jul 29
- Broccoli Jun 4 – Jul 20
- Swiss chard Jun 6 – Oct 24
- Marigolds (in bloom) Jun 7 – Oct 10
- Oregano Jun 8 – Oct 26
- Carrots Jun 9 – Aug 3
- Cauliflower Jun 11 – Jul 20
- Basil Jun 14 – Oct 10
- Potatoes Jun 17 – Aug 29
- Zucchini Jun 22 – Oct 10
- Nasturtiums (in bloom) Jun 22 – Oct 10
- Sage Jun 23 – Nov 21
- Green beans Jun 27 – Aug 8
- Cucumbers Jun 27 – Aug 22
- Lavender Jun 30 – Aug 25
- Rosemary Jun 30 – Oct 24
July
Sow for fall
- Cucumbers Jul 11–25
- Green beans Jul 11–25
- Zucchini Jul 18 – Aug 1
- Peas Jul 18 – Aug 1
- Carrots Jul 18 – Aug 8
- Beets Jul 18 – Aug 8
- Kale Jul 18 – Aug 15
- Collard greens Jul 18 – Aug 15
- Green onions Jul 25 – Aug 8
Start picking
- Shallots Jul 2 – Aug 5
- Onions Jul 2 – Aug 15
- Garlic Jul 3–24
- Okra Jul 4 – Oct 10
- Tomatoes Jul 7 – Oct 10
- Zinnias (in bloom) Jul 7 – Oct 10
- Cosmos (in bloom) Jul 7 – Oct 10
- Leeks Jul 9 – Nov 21
- Sunflowers (in bloom) Jul 10 – Sep 6
- Sweet corn Jul 12 – Aug 27
- Tomatillos Jul 12 – Sep 20
- Peppers Jul 14 – Oct 10
- Eggplant Jul 19 – Oct 10
- Cantaloupes Jul 24 – Aug 28
- Watermelons Jul 24 – Sep 6
- Hot peppers Jul 24 – Oct 10
- Winter squash Jul 27 – Oct 10
August
Sow for fall
Start picking
- Celery Aug 1 – Sep 26
- Pumpkins Aug 6 – Oct 10
- Sweet potatoes Aug 20 – Oct 10
- Cucumbers Aug 30 – Oct 10
- Green beans Aug 30 – Oct 10
September
Sow for fall
- Garlic (garlic cloves) Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start picking
- Beets Sep 6 – Oct 11
- Arugula Sep 7 – Oct 15
- Mustard greens Sep 7 – Oct 20
- Cabbage Sep 9 – Nov 6
- Bok choy Sep 10 – Oct 16
- Spinach Sep 10 – Oct 18
- Lettuce Sep 10 – Oct 22
- Turnips Sep 10 – Oct 28
- Peas Sep 11 – Oct 10
- Cauliflower Sep 11 – Oct 24
- Broccoli Sep 11 – Nov 3
- Brussels sprouts Sep 13 – Nov 21
- Kohlrabi Sep 15 – Oct 21
- Cilantro Sep 15 – Oct 24
- Radishes Sep 16 – Oct 12
- Carrots Sep 16 – Oct 28
- Green onions Sep 23 – Nov 4
- Parsnips Sep 26 – Nov 21
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.