Planting Zone 5b
Min winter temp -15 to -10°F · last frost ~April · first frost ~October
In Zone 5b, the average last spring frost is around April and the first fall frost around October, about a 166-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 5b 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 5b
Fall planting in Zone 5b is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around October 8, 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 17 | Oct 15 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Aug 24 | Oct 8 | ~45 |
| Kale | Aug 23 | Oct 22 | ~60 |
| Beets | Aug 21 | Oct 15 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Aug 19 | Oct 8 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Aug 13 | Oct 22 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Aug 11 | Oct 15 | ~65 |
| Peas | Aug 9 | Oct 8 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Jul 17 | Sep 10 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Jul 17 | Sep 10 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Jul 12 | Sep 10 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Jul 6 | Oct 4 | ~90 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 5b winter: garlic (Oct 8 to Nov 5) , onions (Aug 27 to Sep 17) , spinach (Aug 27 to Sep 10) , parsley (Aug 27 to Sep 10) .
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 5b
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 5b
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 5b.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 5b.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 5b season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 5b.
- Houseplants for low light
Something to grow while the Zone 5b garden is frozen.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 5b.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 5b last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 5b, 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 5b?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 5b is around April; the first fall frost is around October.
What can I grow in Zone 5b?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 5b; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 5b frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 5b?
radishes (sow by Sep 17), cilantro (sow by Aug 24), kale (sow by Aug 23), beets (sow by Aug 21), lettuce (sow by Aug 19), carrots (sow by Aug 13). Each date is counted back from the Zone 5b average first frost around October 8.
How long is the growing season in Zone 5b?
About 166 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.