Gardening in zone 5a
In USDA zone 5a, the coldest winter night averages -20 to -15°F. The typical last spring frost is around May 4 and the first fall frost around Oct 4.
A zone tells you about winter cold, not about timing: across zone 5a, last spring frosts range from about Apr 27 to May 23, and first fall frosts from Sep 23 to Oct 13. Plan from your own frost dates where you can.
Zone 5a is common in: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Vermont, Maine, New York, Michigan, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado
Zone 5a planting schedule
Dates below count from the zone’s typical frost dates, so treat them as a starting point. For dates set to your exact ZIP code, use the planting calendar.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Around Mar 23 | Around May 18 | — |
| Pepper | Around Mar 9 | Around May 18 | — |
| Eggplant | Around Mar 9 | Around May 18 | — |
| Basil | Around Mar 23 | Around May 18 | — |
| Cucumber | Around Apr 13 | Around May 18 | — |
| Zucchini | Around Apr 13 | Around May 11 | — |
| Butternut Squash | Around Apr 13 | Around May 11 | — |
| Watermelon | Around Apr 13 | Around May 18 | — |
| Corn | — | Around May 4 | — |
| Green Bean | — | Around May 11 | — |
| Pea | — | Around Mar 23 | Around Jul 26 |
| Lettuce | — | Around Apr 6 | Around Aug 16 |
| Spinach | — | Around Mar 23 | Around Aug 9 |
| Kale | Around Mar 23 | Around May 4 | Around Jul 26 |
| Broccoli | Around Mar 9 | Around Apr 20 | Around Jun 28 |
| Cabbage | Around Mar 23 | Around May 4 | Around Jun 28 |
| Carrot | — | Around Apr 13 | Around Jul 19 |
| Beet | — | Around Apr 6 | Around Jul 26 |
| Radish | — | Around Apr 6 | Around Aug 23 |
| Onion | Around Feb 23 | Around Apr 13 | — |
| Potato | — | Around Apr 20 | — |
| Garlic | — | — | Around Oct 18 |
Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (50% chance of 32°F), middle value across the zone's ZIP codes.
Other zones: 3b · 4a · 4b · 5b · 6a · 6b · 7a · 7b · 8a · 8b · 9a · 9b · 10a