Home › Frost dates › Zone 5a
Zone 5a planting calendar and frost dates
In USDA hardiness zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 11 and the average first fall frost is Oct 1, leaving about 143 frost-free days. To be 90% sure of no later frost, wait until about May 26 to plant tender crops. These are medians of 78 NOAA weather stations in zone 5a; their last-frost dates range from Apr 21 to Jun 13.
What to plant each month in zone 5a
February
Lavender (start indoors), Begonias (start indoors)
March
Tomatoes (start indoors), Bell peppers (start indoors), Peas (plant), Lettuce (start indoors), Spinach (plant), Kale (start indoors), Broccoli (start indoors), Cauliflower (start indoors), Cabbage (start indoors), Brussels sprouts (start indoors), Radishes (plant), Onions (start indoors), Basil (start indoors), Sage (start indoors), Dahlias (start indoors), Caladiums (start indoors), Coleus (start indoors), Marigolds (start indoors), Foxglove (start indoors), Coneflowers (start indoors), Bee balm (start indoors)
April
Potatoes (plant), Watermelon (start indoors), Lettuce (plant), Kale (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), Basil (plant), Dill (plant), Sage (plant), Lavender (plant), Borage (plant), Catmint (plant), Gladiolus (plant), Dahlias (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
Sweet potatoes (plant), Cabbage (plant for fall), Brussels sprouts (plant for fall), Caladiums (plant), 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), Carrots (plant for fall), Beets (plant for fall), Lavender (plant for fall), Iris (plant), Grass seed (plant for fall)
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)
September
Tulips (plant), Daffodils (plant)
October
Garlic (plant), Wildflower seeds (plant for fall)
Zone 5a planting dates for every plant
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Bell peppers | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 25 – Jun 8 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Okra | – | May 25 – Jun 15 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | May 25 – Jun 8 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 16 – Jul 30 |
| Sweet corn | – | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Sweet potatoes | – | Jun 1 – Jun 15 | – |
| Peas | – | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Jul 9 – Jul 30 |
| Lettuce | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Apr 13 – May 4 | Aug 6 – Aug 27 |
| Spinach | – | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Aug 6 – Aug 27 |
| Kale | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | Jul 9 – Jul 30 |
| Broccoli | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jul 2 – Jul 23 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 2 – Jul 23 |
| Cabbage | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 25 – Jul 16 |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jun 11 – Jul 2 |
| Carrots | – | Apr 20 – May 11 | Jul 9 – Jul 23 |
| Beets | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
| Onions | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1 – Oct 29 |
| Asparagus | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | – |
| Basil | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 27 – May 18 | Aug 6 – Sep 3 |
| Dill | – | May 11 – May 25 | – |
| Sage | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 11 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Lavender | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 18 – Jun 8 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
| Borage | – | May 11 – May 25 | – |
| Catmint | – | May 11 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Strawberries | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
| Blueberries | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | Aug 6 – Sep 3 |
| Blackberries | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | – |
| Tulips | – | – | Sep 17 – Oct 29 |
| Daffodils | – | – | Sep 3 – Oct 15 |
| Gladiolus | – | May 11 – May 25 | – |
| Dahlias | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Caladiums | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Jun 1 – Jun 15 | – |
| Begonias | Feb 16 – Mar 16 | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Coleus | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 25 – Jun 8 | – |
| Marigolds | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 11 – May 25 | – |
| Zinnias | – | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Sunflowers | – | May 18 – Jun 1 | – |
| Cosmos | – | May 11 – May 25 | – |
| Mums | – | May 11 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Lantana | – | May 25 – Jun 8 | – |
| Hydrangeas | – | May 11 – May 25 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Rose bushes | – | Apr 13 – May 11 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Peonies | – | – | Aug 20 – Oct 1 |
| Iris | – | – | Jul 23 – Aug 20 |
| Foxglove | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Apr 27 – May 18 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Coneflowers | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 11 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Bee balm | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 11 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Hostas | – | Apr 27 – May 25 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
| Sedum | – | May 11 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Jasmine | – | May 25 – Jun 8 | – |
| Wildflower seeds | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | Oct 1 – Nov 12 |
| Grass seed | – | Jun 8 – Jul 6 | Jul 30 – Aug 20 |
Places in zone 5a
Weather stations used for this zone include Alliance, NE; Anchorage Merrill, AK; Arco 17 Sw, ID; Ashland Kennedy, WI; Bangor, ME; Billings Logan, MT; Boscobel, WI; Bozeman Gallatin, MT; Buffalo Johnson, WY; Burlington, VT; Butte Bert Mooney, MT; Cadillac, MI; Casper Natrona, WY; Cedar Rapids, IA; Chadron, NE; Chamberlain, SD; Chatham 1 Se, MI; Cordova M K Smith, AK; Custer, SD; Douglas Converse, WY; Dubuque, IA; Ely Yelland, NV; Escanaba, MI; Estherville, IA and 54 more.
Zone 5a frost dates by state: Alaska · Colorado · Idaho · Iowa · Maine · Michigan · Minnesota · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New York · South Dakota · Vermont · Wisconsin · Wyoming
← Zone 4b (last frost May 13) · Zone 5b (last frost May 5) →