| Plant | Zone 5a | Zone 5b |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Plant outside: May 3 to Jun 14 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 22 | Plant outside: May 1 to Jun 12 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 20 |
| Pepper | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 22 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 20 |
| Eggplant | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 22 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 20 |
| Cucumber | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 26 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 24 |
| Zucchini | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 26 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 24 |
| Winter squash | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 26 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 24 |
| Pumpkin | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 |
| Watermelon | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 19 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 17 |
| Okra | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 |
| Sweet potato | Plant outside: May 17 to Jun 28 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 26 |
| Green beans | Plant outside: May 3 to Jun 14 | Plant outside: May 1 to Jun 12 |
| Sweet corn | Plant outside: May 3 to Jun 14 | Plant outside: May 1 to Jun 12 |
| Lettuce | Plant outside: Apr 5 to Apr 19 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 8 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to Apr 17 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 6 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Spinach | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Kale | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 8 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 6 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Broccoli | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 8 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 6 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Cabbage | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 8 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 6 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Carrot | Plant outside: Apr 5 to Apr 19 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to Apr 17 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Beet | Plant outside: Apr 5 to Apr 19 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Apr 3 to Apr 17 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Radish | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 Fall crop: Aug 10 to Sep 7 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 Fall crop: Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Peas | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 |
| Onion | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 11 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 9 |
| Potato | Plant outside: Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Plant outside: Mar 20 to Apr 3 |
| Garlic | Plant cloves: Sep 7 to Oct 19 | Plant cloves: Sep 12 to Oct 24 |
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.