USDA zone 3b planting guide
Zone 3b means an average annual winter low of -35°F to -30°F. That coldest-temperature band describes winter cold tolerance. Frost dates and growing-season length come separately from NOAA climate normals.
A typical location in zone 3b sees its last spring frost around May 17 and its first fall frost around September 23. Pick a crop for its zone 3b planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.
Zone 3b by month
Open the months with enough source-backed tasks for a useful zone 3b checklist.
The zone 3b planting year
When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 3blocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.
Augustthis month
Active now· 11
- CarrotHarvestJuly 5 – August 11
- New Zealand SpinachHarvestJuly 6 – August 2
- CabbageFall plantingJuly 15 – August 19
- CauliflowerFall plantingJuly 15 – August 19
- SpinachFall plantingJuly 15 – August 19
- FennelHarvestJuly 16 – August 15
- Sweet CornHarvestJuly 16 – August 29
- KaleFall plantingJuly 22 – August 26
- TomatilloHarvestJuly 23 – August 14
- PumpkinHarvestJuly 26 – September 28
- RomanescoHarvestJuly 31 – August 25
Later this month· 3
Browse all 68 zone 3b crop guidesComplete directory
- Ageratum
- Annual Salvia (Scarlet Sage)
- Bachelors Button
- Basil
- Beet
- Bitter Melon
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Bok Choy
- Borage
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Collards
- Cosmos
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Forget-me-not
- French Sorrel
- French Tarragon
- Garlic
- German Chamomile
- Globe Amaranth
- Globe Artichoke
- Green Bean (Snap Bean)
- Ground Cherry
- Impatiens
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce
- Luffa Gourd
- Malabar Spinach
- Marigold
- Mexican Sunflower
- Moonflower
- Mustard Greens
- Nasturtium
- New Zealand Spinach
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Pepper
- Petunia
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Romanesco
- Rutabaga
- Spinach
- Stock
- Sunflower
- Sweet Alyssum
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Marjoram
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Watermelon
- Wax Begonia
- Winter Squash
- Zucchini
Not sure which zone you are in?
Browsing zone 3b but not sure it's yours? Enter your ZIP and we will confirm your USDA zone and pull your nearest station's frost dates.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service / Oregon State University PRISM Group. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Zone dates are medians across the zone; your town varies.