| Plant | Zone 5a | Zone 5b |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Plant outside: May 10 to Jun 14 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 29 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 12 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 27 |
| Parsley Comes back in zone 5 | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 3 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 25 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to May 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 23 |
| Cilantro | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 3 Fall planting: Aug 17 to Sep 14 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to May 1 Fall planting: Aug 22 to Sep 19 |
| Dill | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 3 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to May 1 |
| Chives Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Spearmint Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Rosemary Annual in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Common thyme Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Greek oregano Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Garden sage Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Lemon balm Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| French tarragon Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Lemongrass Annual in zone 5 | Plant outside: May 10 to Jun 14 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 12 |
| Bronze fennel Comes back in zone 5 | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 3 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to May 1 |
| German chamomile | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 3 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to May 1 |
| Stevia Annual in zone 5 | Plant outside: May 10 to Jun 14 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 12 |
| Lovage Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
| Garden sorrel Comes back in zone 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 |
Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so your own frost dates can be a week or two off the zone median. Look up your frost dates by ZIP code, or read all about zone 5a.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.