Zone 5 Planting Guide: When to Plant Vegetables in USDA Zone 5
USDA hardiness zone 5 (5a and 5b) covers places where the coldest winter night averages -20 to -10°F. This guide times seed-starting, transplanting, and fall planting for a typical zone 5 last frost of May 3 and first fall frost of Oct 7. Most crops fit, but start warm-season crops indoors and wait for soil to warm.
About these dates: Timings are counted from your average last spring frost date, which is only an average — a frost can still occur after it. Dates vary within a state by elevation, distance from water, and microclimate. Look up the frost date for your ZIP code (your state Cooperative Extension office or NOAA climate normals are good sources) and adjust for the current season’s weather and soil temperature.
Zone 5 frost dates
| Earliest 10% of ZIPs | Typical (median) | Latest 10% of ZIPs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring frost (32°F) | Apr 23 | May 3 | May 21 |
| First fall frost (32°F) | Sep 26 | Oct 7 | Oct 18 |
Frost dates: medians of the nearest NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals station (32°F, 50% probability) for each ZIP code in zone 5 (4,869 ZIPs). Zones: USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP data, PRISM Climate Group (Oregon State University); this is a summary, not the official USDA map. Your local dates can differ by weeks — use the ZIP planner or frost-date tables.
What to plant each month in zone 5
| Month | What to plant (typical zone 5 timing) |
|---|---|
| February | Start indoors: broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, kale, peppers |
| March | Start indoors: basil, marigolds, tomatoes, zinnias Direct sow: peas, radishes, spinach |
| April | Direct sow: lettuce Plant sets/transplants: onions Plant seed potatoes: potatoes Transplant: broccoli, cabbage, kale |
| May | Direct sow / transplant: marigolds, zinnias Transplant: basil, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes Direct sow: beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn |
| July | Fall transplant: broccoli, cabbage Fall sow: kale |
| August | Fall sow: lettuce, radishes, spinach |
| September | Fall plant bulbs: daffodils, tulips |
| October | Fall plant cloves: garlic |
Zone 5 planting calendar (23 crops)
Dates assume the typical zone 5 frost dates above; shift them with your own. Timing relative to frost:
| Plant | Task | Typical window |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Start indoors | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Basil | Transplant | May 10 – May 17 |
| Beans | Direct sow | May 10 – May 17 |
| Broccoli | Start indoors | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Broccoli | Transplant | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Broccoli | Fall transplant | Jul 15 – Jul 29 |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Cabbage | Transplant | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Cabbage | Fall transplant | Jul 15 – Jul 29 |
| Cucumbers | Direct sow | May 10 – May 17 |
| Daffodils | Fall plant bulbs | Sep 9 – Oct 21 |
| Eggplant | Start indoors | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Eggplant | Transplant | May 17 – May 24 |
| Garlic | Fall plant cloves | Oct 7 – Nov 4 |
| Kale | Start indoors | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Kale | Transplant | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Kale | Fall sow | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Lettuce | Fall sow | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| Marigolds | Start indoors | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Marigolds | Direct sow / transplant | May 3 – May 10 |
| Onions | Plant sets/transplants | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Peas | Direct sow | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Peppers | Start indoors | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Peppers | Transplant | May 17 – May 24 |
| Potatoes | Plant seed potatoes | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Pumpkins | Direct sow | May 10 – May 24 |
| Radishes | Direct sow | Mar 29 – Apr 19 |
| Radishes | Fall sow | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Spinach | Direct sow | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Spinach | Fall sow | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| Squash | Direct sow | May 10 – May 17 |
| Sweet corn | Direct sow | May 10 – May 17 |
| Tomatoes | Start indoors | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant | May 10 – May 17 |
| Tulips | Fall plant bulbs | Sep 23 – Nov 4 |
| Zinnias | Start indoors | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Zinnias | Direct sow / transplant | May 3 – May 17 |
Cool-season vs warm-season crops in zone 5
- Cool-season (peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale, onions, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, garlic): tolerate light frost; plant in early spring and again late summer–fall.
- Warm-season (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil, marigolds, zinnias): frost-tender; plant after the last frost once soil warms.
States with large zone 5 areas
Iowa · Vermont · Wyoming · Nebraska · Maine · Wisconsin · New Hampshire · Colorado · South Dakota · Montana · Illinois · Minnesota · Idaho · New York · Michigan · Alaska · Utah
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in zone 5?
Across ZIP codes in USDA zone 5, the median last spring frost (32°F) at the nearest NOAA station is about May 3, with most falling between Apr 23 and May 21. Hardiness zones measure winter lows, not frost dates, so look up your ZIP for a local date.
What are zone 5 winter temperatures?
USDA zone 5 means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -20 to -10°F (1991–2020), split into 5a (colder half) and 5b.
When should I plant tomatoes in zone 5?
Transplant tomatoes about 1–2 weeks after your last frost (typical zone 5: around May 10), once nights stay above 50°F. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Which states are in zone 5?
Large parts of Iowa, Vermont, Wyoming, Nebraska, Maine, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Colorado fall in zone 5 on the 2023 USDA map. Check your ZIP code, since zones vary within states.
Other zone guides
Zone 3 · Zone 4 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8 · Zone 9 · Zone 10 · Zone 11 · Zone map · Frost dates