Planting Zone 5a
Min winter temp -20 to -15°F · last frost ~April · first frost ~October
In Zone 5a, the average last spring frost is around April and the first fall frost around October, about a 156-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 5a planting schedule and calendar
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Peppers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cucumbers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Lettuce | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Zucchini | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Carrots | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Peas | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Broccoli | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Spinach | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Kale | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Onions | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Garlic | ||||||||||||
| Potatoes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Squash (winter) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Corn | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Radishes | ● | |||||||||||
| Beets | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Eggplant | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Basil | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cilantro | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Parsley | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Pumpkins | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Sunflowers | ● | ● |
What to plant this fall in Zone 5a
Fall planting in Zone 5a is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around October 3, so a crop needs its days to maturity, plus about two weeks for the slower growth of shortening days, to fit before then. Hardy crops get some of that back because they keep going past a light frost.
| Crop | Sow by | Fall harvest | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radishes | Sep 12 | Oct 10 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Aug 19 | Oct 3 | ~45 |
| Kale | Aug 18 | Oct 17 | ~60 |
| Beets | Aug 16 | Oct 10 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Aug 14 | Oct 3 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Aug 8 | Oct 17 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Aug 6 | Oct 10 | ~65 |
| Peas | Aug 4 | Oct 3 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Jul 12 | Sep 5 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Jul 12 | Sep 5 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Jul 7 | Sep 5 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Jul 1 | Sep 29 | ~90 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 5a winter: garlic (Oct 3 to Oct 31) , onions (Aug 22 to Sep 12) , spinach (Aug 22 to Sep 5) , parsley (Aug 22 to Sep 5) .
More on the method: the fall planting calendar by zone, when to plant garlic and how to stretch your first frost date.
When to plant popular crops in Zone 5a
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantSeasonal reading for Zone 5a
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 5a.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 5a.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 5a season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 5a.
- Houseplants for low light
Something to grow while the Zone 5a garden is frozen.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 5a.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 5a last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 5a, and what that changes.
- Companion planting chart
Which crops to plant together once you know your dates.
Nearby zones
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Zone 5a?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 5a is around April; the first fall frost is around October.
What can I grow in Zone 5a?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 5a; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 5a frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 5a?
radishes (sow by Sep 12), cilantro (sow by Aug 19), kale (sow by Aug 18), beets (sow by Aug 16), lettuce (sow by Aug 14), carrots (sow by Aug 8). Each date is counted back from the Zone 5a average first frost around October 3.
How long is the growing season in Zone 5a?
About 156 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.