USDA zone hub
Zone 5a planting calendar: when to plant 12 crops
In USDA zone 5a, the representative last frost usually lands around May 10 and the first fall frost around Oct 1, about 144 frost-free days.
Here is when to start, transplant, and sow all 12 crops from the supported ZIP data in this zone. Your ZIP narrows these dates further; enter it below for exact windows.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 | May 17 | Not direct-sown | Aug 3 |
| Peppers | Mar 15 | May 24 | Not direct-sown | Aug 17 |
| Basil | Apr 5 | May 20 | May 20 | Jul 24 |
| Carrots | Direct sow | Not transplanted | Apr 19 | Jun 28 |
| Lettuce | Apr 12 | Apr 26 | Apr 26 | Jun 20 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 19 | May 20 | May 20 | Jul 19 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 20 | May 20 | Jul 14 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow | Not transplanted | Apr 26 | Jun 10 |
| Bush beans | Direct sow | Not transplanted | May 17 | Jul 11 |
| Spinach | Direct sow | Not transplanted | Apr 12 | May 27 |
| Radishes | Direct sow | Not transplanted | Apr 12 | May 10 |
| Kale | Apr 5 | Apr 26 | Apr 19 | Jun 25 |