Gardening in zone 5b
In USDA zone 5b, the coldest winter night averages -15 to -10°F. The typical last spring frost is around May 1 and the first fall frost around Oct 10.
A zone tells you about winter cold, not about timing: across zone 5b, last spring frosts range from about Apr 21 to May 19, and first fall frosts from Sep 29 to Oct 19. Plan from your own frost dates where you can.
Zone 5b is common in: Illinois, New York, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Massachusetts
Zone 5b 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 20 | Around May 15 | — |
| Pepper | Around Mar 6 | Around May 15 | — |
| Eggplant | Around Mar 6 | Around May 15 | — |
| Basil | Around Mar 20 | Around May 15 | — |
| Cucumber | Around Apr 10 | Around May 15 | — |
| Zucchini | Around Apr 10 | Around May 8 | — |
| Butternut Squash | Around Apr 10 | Around May 8 | — |
| Watermelon | Around Apr 10 | Around May 15 | — |
| Corn | — | Around May 1 | — |
| Green Bean | — | Around May 8 | — |
| Pea | — | Around Mar 20 | Around Aug 1 |
| Lettuce | — | Around Apr 3 | Around Aug 22 |
| Spinach | — | Around Mar 20 | Around Aug 15 |
| Kale | Around Mar 20 | Around May 1 | Around Aug 1 |
| Broccoli | Around Mar 6 | Around Apr 17 | Around Jul 4 |
| Cabbage | Around Mar 20 | Around May 1 | Around Jul 4 |
| Carrot | — | Around Apr 10 | Around Jul 25 |
| Beet | — | Around Apr 3 | Around Aug 1 |
| Radish | — | Around Apr 3 | Around Aug 29 |
| Onion | Around Feb 20 | Around Apr 10 | — |
| Potato | — | Around Apr 17 | — |
| Garlic | — | — | Around Oct 24 |
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 · 5a · 6a · 6b · 7a · 7b · 8a · 8b · 9a · 9b · 10a