USDA zone 5b planting guide
Zone 5b means an average annual winter low of -15°F to -10°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 5b sees its last spring frost around May 1 and its first fall frost around October 10. Pick a crop for its zone 5b planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.
Zone 5b by month
Open the months with enough source-backed tasks for a useful zone 5b checklist.
The zone 5b planting year
When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 5blocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.
Augustthis month
Active now· 10
- Sweet CornHarvestJune 30 – August 13
- PumpkinHarvestJuly 10 – September 12
- LettuceFall plantingJuly 11 – August 15
- RomanescoHarvestJuly 15 – August 9
- KohlrabiFall plantingJuly 18 – August 15
- ParsnipHarvestJuly 19 – August 15
- WatermelonHarvestJuly 25 – August 13
- CabbageFall plantingAugust 1 – September 5
- CauliflowerFall plantingAugust 1 – September 5
- SpinachFall plantingAugust 1 – September 5
Later this month· 2
Browse all 69 zone 5b 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
- English Lavender
- 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 5b 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.