Zone 5a planting calendar
In zone 5a, the last spring frost usually comes around May 4 and the first fall frost around Oct 3. Here is what to do each month.
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Open the free planner →March
- Mar 9:
Start bell pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 9:
Start hot pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 9:
Start eggplant seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 9:
Start parsley seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 9:
Start chives seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 9:
Start thyme seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 9:
Start oregano seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 16:
Start tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 16:
Start cherry tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 23:
Sow spinach seeds in the bed - Mar 23:
Start kale seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 23:
Start broccoli seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 23:
Start cabbage seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 23:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 23:
Sow pea seeds in the bed - Mar 23:
Start basil seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 30:
Sow radish seeds in the bed
April
- Apr 6:
Sow lettuce seeds in the bed - Apr 6:
Sow arugula seeds in the bed - Apr 6: Plant kale in the bed
- Apr 6:
Plant onion sets in the bed - Apr 6:
Sow green onion seeds in the bed - Apr 6:
Plant strawberries in the bed - Apr 6:
Plant blueberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 6:
Plant raspberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 6:
Plant blackberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 6:
Plant rhubarb in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 13: Plant broccoli in the bed
- Apr 13: Plant cabbage in the bed
- Apr 13:
Sow carrot seeds in the bed - Apr 13:
Sow beet seeds in the bed - Apr 20:
Sow swiss chard seeds in the bed - Apr 20: Plant cauliflower in the bed
- Apr 20:
Plant seed potatoes in the bed - Apr 20: Plant parsley in the bed
- Apr 20:
Sow cilantro seeds in the bed - Apr 20: Plant chives in the bed
May
- May 4:
Sow dill seeds in the bed - May 4: Plant thyme in the bed
- May 4: Plant oregano in the bed
- May 11:
Sow bush bean seeds in the bed - May 11:
Sow pole bean seeds in the bed - May 18: Plant tomatoes in the bed
- May 18: Plant cherry tomatoes in the bed
- May 18: Plant bell peppers in the bed
- May 18: Plant hot peppers in the bed
- May 18:
Sow cucumber seeds in the bed - May 18:
Sow zucchini seeds in the bed - May 18:
Sow winter squash seeds in the bed - May 18:
Sow sweet corn seeds in the bed - May 18: Plant basil in the bed
- May 18:
Sow watermelon seeds in the bed - May 18:
Sow cantaloupe seeds in the bed - May 25: Plant eggplants in the bed
- May 25:
Plant sweet potatoes in the bed - May 25:
Sow okra seeds in the bed - May 30: Start cabbage seeds indoors for a fall crop
June
- Jun 4: Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 4: Start cauliflower seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 14: Start kale seeds indoors for a fall crop
July
- Jul 11: Plant cabbage again for a fall crop
- Jul 11: Sow carrot seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 16: Plant broccoli again for a fall crop
- Jul 16: Plant cauliflower again for a fall crop
- Jul 21: Sow green onion seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 21: Sow pea seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 26: Plant kale again for a fall crop
- Jul 26: Sow swiss chard seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 26: Sow beet seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 31: Sow lettuce seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 31: Sow cilantro seeds again for a fall crop
August
- Aug 5: Sow spinach seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 10: Sow arugula seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 22: Sow radish seeds again for a fall crop
September
- Sep 5:
Plant garlic cloves
Not usually grown outdoors in zone 5a
Rosemary, Fig (dwarf), Lemon (dwarf Meyer). Some of these can be grown in pots and moved indoors for winter.
Dates are estimates based on average frost dates for zone 5a. Your local dates may differ by a week or two.