Zone 5b planting calendar
In zone 5b, the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 28 and the first fall frost around Oct 10. Here is what to do each month.
Get this calendar for just the plants you choose. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
Open the free planner →March
- Mar 3:
Start bell pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 3:
Start hot pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 3:
Start eggplant seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 3:
Start parsley seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 3:
Start chives seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 3:
Start thyme seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 3:
Start oregano seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 10:
Start tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 10:
Start cherry tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Sow spinach seeds in the bed - Mar 17:
Start kale seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Start broccoli seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Start cabbage seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 17:
Sow pea seeds in the bed - Mar 17:
Start basil seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 24:
Sow radish seeds in the bed - Mar 31:
Sow lettuce seeds in the bed - Mar 31:
Sow arugula seeds in the bed - Mar 31: Plant kale in the bed
- Mar 31:
Plant onion sets in the bed - Mar 31:
Sow green onion seeds in the bed - Mar 31:
Plant strawberries in the bed - Mar 31:
Plant blueberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Mar 31:
Plant raspberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Mar 31:
Plant blackberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Mar 31:
Plant rhubarb in the bed (first harvest next year)
April
- Apr 7: Plant broccoli in the bed
- Apr 7: Plant cabbage in the bed
- Apr 7:
Sow carrot seeds in the bed - Apr 7:
Sow beet seeds in the bed - Apr 14:
Sow swiss chard seeds in the bed - Apr 14: Plant cauliflower in the bed
- Apr 14:
Plant seed potatoes in the bed - Apr 14: Plant parsley in the bed
- Apr 14:
Sow cilantro seeds in the bed - Apr 14: Plant chives in the bed
- Apr 28:
Sow dill seeds in the bed - Apr 28: Plant thyme in the bed
- Apr 28: Plant oregano in the bed
May
- May 5:
Sow bush bean seeds in the bed - May 5:
Sow pole bean seeds in the bed - May 12: Plant tomatoes in the bed
- May 12: Plant cherry tomatoes in the bed
- May 12: Plant bell peppers in the bed
- May 12: Plant hot peppers in the bed
- May 12:
Sow cucumber seeds in the bed - May 12:
Sow zucchini seeds in the bed - May 12:
Sow winter squash seeds in the bed - May 12:
Sow sweet corn seeds in the bed - May 12: Plant basil in the bed
- May 12:
Sow watermelon seeds in the bed - May 12:
Sow cantaloupe seeds in the bed - May 19: Plant eggplants in the bed
- May 19:
Plant sweet potatoes in the bed - May 19:
Sow okra seeds in the bed
June
- Jun 6: Start cabbage seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 11: Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 11: Start cauliflower seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 21: Start kale seeds indoors for a fall crop
July
- Jul 18: Plant cabbage again for a fall crop
- Jul 18: Sow carrot seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 23: Plant broccoli again for a fall crop
- Jul 23: Plant cauliflower again for a fall crop
- Jul 28: Sow green onion seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 28: Sow pea seeds again for a fall crop
August
- Aug 2: Plant kale again for a fall crop
- Aug 2: Sow swiss chard seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 2: Sow beet seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 7: Sow lettuce seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 7: Sow cilantro seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 12: Sow spinach seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 17: Sow arugula seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 29: Sow radish seeds again for a fall crop
September
- Sep 12:
Plant garlic cloves
Not usually grown outdoors in zone 5b
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 5b. Your local dates may differ by a week or two.