Zone 5a Planting Calendar
In zone 5a, the median last spring frost falls around Apr 30 and the first fall frost around Oct 10, giving roughly 162 frost-free days. Average annual minimum temperature is -20°F to -15°F. Every date in the table below is calculated from those two frost dates.
Comparable areas: Minneapolis, MN, Green Bay, WI, Sioux Falls, SD. Minneapolis-St. Paul shifted into 5a on the 2023 map, partly from urban heat island effects; its frost dates run later in fall than surrounding rural 4b countryside. Suburban and rural gardens in the same ZIP typically lose 7-14 days.
What to plant and when in zone 5a
Sorted by when you start each crop. Dates are calculated from a median last frost of Apr 30 and a first frost of Oct 10.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall sowing | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celery | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Aug 22 – Sep 21 |
| Leek | Feb 5 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 15 | — | Jul 1 – Aug 30 |
| Onion | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | — | Jul 18 – Aug 7 |
| Rosemary | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Aug 2 – Aug 22 |
| Kale | Feb 12 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 15 | Jul 18 – Jul 31 | May 22 – Jun 23 |
| Broccoli | Feb 19 – Mar 12 | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Jul 11 – Jul 24 | May 29 – Jul 8 |
| Cabbage | Feb 19 – Mar 12 | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Jul 11 – Jul 24 | Jun 8 – Jul 18 |
| Pepper (sweet/bell) | Feb 19 – Mar 19 | May 21 – Jun 3 | — | Jul 30 – Aug 14 |
| Chives | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jul 19 – Jul 29 |
| Common Thyme | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jun 29 – Jul 29 |
| Greek Oregano | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jul 19 – Jul 29 |
| Cauliflower | Feb 26 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | Jul 11 – Jul 24 | Jun 5 – Jul 5 |
| Eggplant | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Jul 8 – Aug 2 |
| Sweet Potato | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 21 – Jun 3 | — | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Basil | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 7 – May 20 | — | Jul 13 – Aug 12 |
| Garden Sage | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jul 9 – Jul 19 |
| Parsley | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 30 – May 13 | Aug 1 – Aug 14 | Jul 9 – Jul 19 |
| Spearmint | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jun 29 – Jul 29 |
| Calendula / Pot Marigold | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | Aug 15 – Aug 28 | Jun 5 – Jun 15 |
| French Marigold | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | May 7 – May 20 | — | Jun 21 – Jul 6 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | Aug 15 – Aug 28 | May 28 – Jun 11 |
| Tomato | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | May 7 – May 20 | — | Jul 1 – Aug 5 |
| Bok Choy | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | Aug 15 – Aug 28 | May 16 – Jun 15 |
| Collard Greens | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | Jul 18 – Jul 31 | Jun 15 – Jul 5 |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Aug 8 – Aug 21 | Jun 5 – Jun 15 |
| Lettuce | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Aug 1 – Aug 14 | Jun 5 – Jun 25 |
| Spinach | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Aug 22 – Sep 4 | Jun 6 – Jun 17 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | Sep 12 – Sep 25 | May 26 – Jun 10 |
| Pea | — | Mar 26 – Apr 8 | Aug 8 – Aug 21 | May 20 – Jun 9 |
| Rhubarb | — | Mar 26 – Apr 8 | — | Mar 25 |
| Watermelon | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Jul 23 – Aug 17 |
| Arugula | — | Apr 2 – Apr 15 | Aug 29 – Sep 11 | May 2 – May 22 |
| Asparagus | — | Apr 2 – Apr 15 | — | Apr 1 |
| Cucumber | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Jul 3 – Jul 23 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Aug 7 – Sep 11 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 2 – Apr 15 | Aug 8 – Aug 21 | May 12 – Jun 16 |
| Nasturtium | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 7 – May 20 | — | Jul 1 – Jul 11 |
| Beet | — | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Aug 1 – Aug 14 | May 29 – Jun 18 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Jul 25 – Aug 7 | Jun 8 – Jun 28 |
| Potato | — | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | — | Jun 18 – Aug 7 |
| Radish | — | Apr 9 – Apr 22 | Aug 29 – Sep 11 | Apr 30 – May 24 |
| Sunflower | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | May 7 – May 20 | — | Jul 16 – Aug 15 |
| Parsnip | — | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | — | Aug 4 – Aug 24 |
| Winter Squash (Butternut) | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Aug 2 – Aug 22 |
| Cantaloupe (Muskmelon) | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 27 | — | Jul 21 – Aug 7 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 16 – Apr 29 | — | May 14 – May 16 |
| Dill | — | Apr 23 – May 6 | Aug 1 – Aug 14 | Jun 2 – Jun 17 |
| Bush bean | — | Apr 30 – May 13 | Aug 1 – Aug 14 | Jun 19 – Jun 29 |
| Pole bean | — | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jun 27 – Jul 2 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jun 29 – Aug 8 |
| Borage | — | Apr 30 – May 13 | — | Jun 19 – Jun 29 |
| Cilantro / Coriander | — | Apr 30 – May 13 | Aug 15 – Aug 28 | Jun 14 – Jul 9 |
| Summer squash / zucchini | — | May 7 – May 20 | — | Jun 11 – Jul 1 |
| Okra | — | May 14 – May 27 | — | Jul 13 – Jul 23 |
| Brussels Sprouts | — | Jul 9 – Jul 22 | Jul 4 – Jul 17 | Oct 2 – Oct 27 |
| Garlic | — | — | Oct 10 – Oct 23 | — |
Print this page for a calendar you can pin up in the shed.
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One zone is not one climate. USDA hardiness zones are drawn from average winter minimum temperature and nothing else, so they do not determine frost dates. Two gardens in zone 5a can differ by two or three weeks depending on elevation, distance from water, and local topography. Treat this page as a starting schedule and adjust it to what your own garden has actually done. How these dates were derived →
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