Zone 5b Planting Calendar
In zone 5b, the median last spring frost falls around Apr 25 and the first fall frost around Oct 15, giving roughly 172 frost-free days. Average annual minimum temperature is -15°F to -10°F. Every date in the table below is calculated from those two frost dates.
Comparable areas: Rockford, IL, Des Moines, IA, Albany, NY. Anchored on the NWS 1991-2020 normal final spring 32F freeze for Rockford, IL (April 27). Appalachian and Adirondack 5b valleys frost considerably earlier in fall than flat Midwestern 5b farmland.
What to plant and when in zone 5b
Sorted by when you start each crop. Dates are calculated from a median last frost of Apr 25 and a first frost of Oct 15.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall sowing | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celery | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Aug 17 – Sep 16 |
| Leek | Jan 31 – Feb 28 | Mar 28 – Apr 10 | — | Jun 26 – Aug 25 |
| Onion | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | — | Jul 13 – Aug 2 |
| Rosemary | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Jul 28 – Aug 17 |
| Kale | Feb 7 – Feb 28 | Mar 28 – Apr 10 | Jul 23 – Aug 5 | May 17 – Jun 18 |
| Broccoli | Feb 14 – Mar 7 | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Jul 16 – Jul 29 | May 24 – Jul 3 |
| Cabbage | Feb 14 – Mar 7 | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Jul 16 – Jul 29 | Jun 3 – Jul 13 |
| Pepper (sweet/bell) | Feb 14 – Mar 14 | May 16 – May 29 | — | Jul 25 – Aug 9 |
| Chives | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jul 14 – Jul 24 |
| Common Thyme | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jun 24 – Jul 24 |
| Greek Oregano | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jul 14 – Jul 24 |
| Cauliflower | Feb 21 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | Jul 16 – Jul 29 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| Eggplant | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Jul 3 – Jul 28 |
| Sweet Potato | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | May 16 – May 29 | — | Aug 14 – Sep 13 |
| Basil | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | May 2 – May 15 | — | Jul 8 – Aug 7 |
| Garden Sage | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jul 4 – Jul 14 |
| Parsley | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Apr 25 – May 8 | Aug 6 – Aug 19 | Jul 4 – Jul 14 |
| Spearmint | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jun 24 – Jul 24 |
| Calendula / Pot Marigold | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | Aug 20 – Sep 2 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| French Marigold | Feb 28 – Mar 28 | May 2 – May 15 | — | Jun 16 – Jul 1 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | Aug 20 – Sep 2 | May 23 – Jun 6 |
| Tomato | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | May 2 – May 15 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 31 |
| Bok Choy | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | Aug 20 – Sep 2 | May 11 – Jun 10 |
| Collard Greens | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | Jul 23 – Aug 5 | Jun 10 – Jun 30 |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Aug 13 – Aug 26 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| Lettuce | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Aug 6 – Aug 19 | May 31 – Jun 20 |
| Spinach | Mar 14 – Mar 21 | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Aug 27 – Sep 9 | Jun 1 – Jun 12 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | Sep 17 – Sep 30 | May 21 – Jun 5 |
| Pea | — | Mar 21 – Apr 3 | Aug 13 – Aug 26 | May 15 – Jun 4 |
| Rhubarb | — | Mar 21 – Apr 3 | — | Mar 20 |
| Watermelon | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Jul 18 – Aug 12 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 28 – Apr 10 | Sep 3 – Sep 16 | Apr 27 – May 17 |
| Asparagus | — | Mar 28 – Apr 10 | — | Mar 27 |
| Cucumber | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Jun 28 – Jul 18 |
| Pumpkin | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Aug 2 – Sep 6 |
| Turnip | — | Mar 28 – Apr 10 | Aug 13 – Aug 26 | May 7 – Jun 11 |
| Nasturtium | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | May 2 – May 15 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 6 |
| Beet | — | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Aug 6 – Aug 19 | May 24 – Jun 13 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Jul 30 – Aug 12 | Jun 3 – Jun 23 |
| Potato | — | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | — | Jun 13 – Aug 2 |
| Radish | — | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | Sep 3 – Sep 16 | Apr 25 – May 19 |
| Sunflower | Apr 4 – Apr 11 | May 2 – May 15 | — | Jul 11 – Aug 10 |
| Parsnip | — | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | — | Jul 30 – Aug 19 |
| Winter Squash (Butternut) | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Jul 28 – Aug 17 |
| Cantaloupe (Muskmelon) | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | May 9 – May 22 | — | Jul 16 – Aug 2 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 11 – Apr 24 | — | May 9 – May 11 |
| Dill | — | Apr 18 – May 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 19 | May 28 – Jun 12 |
| Bush bean | — | Apr 25 – May 8 | Aug 6 – Aug 19 | Jun 14 – Jun 24 |
| Pole bean | — | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jun 22 – Jun 27 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jun 24 – Aug 3 |
| Borage | — | Apr 25 – May 8 | — | Jun 14 – Jun 24 |
| Cilantro / Coriander | — | Apr 25 – May 8 | Aug 20 – Sep 2 | Jun 9 – Jul 4 |
| Summer squash / zucchini | — | May 2 – May 15 | — | Jun 6 – Jun 26 |
| Okra | — | May 9 – May 22 | — | Jul 8 – Jul 18 |
| Brussels Sprouts | — | Jul 4 – Jul 17 | Jul 9 – Jul 22 | Sep 27 – Oct 22 |
| Garlic | — | — | Oct 15 – Oct 28 | — |
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 5b 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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