Zone 5a planting schedule
Zone 5a covers places where the coldest night of an average winter falls between -20 to -15 °F. Here is what that means for frost dates and planting, month by month.
- Average winter low
- -20 to -15 °F
- Typical first frost
- Oct 9
- Last frost, most towns
- Apr 25 to May 4
- Frost-free season
- about 161 days
Middle values among the 149 towns of 10,000 people or more in zone 5a (our calculation, NOAA 1991-2020).
Where zone 5a is
Zone 5a towns are most common in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, New York, Wyoming, Montana and Vermont. Its biggest cities include Minneapolis, MN; St. Paul, MN; Madison, WI; Sioux Falls, SD; Cedar Rapids, IA. Because a zone is set only by winter cold, towns in it can have quite different springs: the middle half of them have their last frost between Apr 25 and May 4. Use your own town's dates when you can.
| City | Last frost | First frost | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Oct 18 | 176 d |
| St. Paul, MN | Apr 24 | Oct 16 | 174 d |
| Madison, WI | May 1 | Oct 10 | 160 d |
| Sioux Falls, SD | May 1 | Oct 6 | 157 d |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Apr 27 | Oct 11 | 165 d |
| Rochester, MN | Apr 30 | Oct 6 | 159 d |
| Billings, MT | May 4 | Oct 7 | 156 d |
| Green Bay, WI | Apr 30 | Oct 9 | 161 d |
| Bloomington, MN | Apr 23 | Oct 18 | 176 d |
| Duluth, MN | May 13 | Oct 1 | 140 d |
| Sioux City, IA | Apr 29 | Oct 5 | 159 d |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | Apr 30 | Oct 8 | 159 d |
Zone 5a planting calendar, month by month
Counted from the zone's typical frost dates. April is the busiest month for planting outside, with 31 crops going in. Each crop name links to its own page with the dates for your exact town.
| Month | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Onions, Leeks | ||
| February | Peppers, Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Eggplant, Parsley | ||
| March | Zinnias, Marigolds, Herbs, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Okra, Basil | Blueberries, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Lilies, Roses, Fruit Trees, Trees, Apple Trees, Cherry Trees, Potatoes, Onions, Peas, Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Turnips, Leeks | |
| April | Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe | Strawberries, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Raspberries, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Summer Bulbs, Zinnias, Marigolds, Hostas, Herbs, Hydrangeas, Tomatoes, Peppers, Broccoli, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Cantaloupe, Sweet Corn, Green Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Celery, Basil, Dill, Parsley | Radishes, Spinach, Turnips |
| May | Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Eggplant, Okra, Sweet Potatoes | Potatoes, Peas, Lettuce, Carrots, Beets, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Basil | |
| June | Onions, Broccoli, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Sweet Corn, Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Okra | ||
| July | Irises, Hostas, Herbs, Peas, Broccoli, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Green Beans, Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Turnips | Tomatoes, Peppers, Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Leeks, Eggplant | |
| August | Strawberries, Wildflowers, Lilies, Peonies, Trees, Hydrangeas, Garlic, Spinach, Arugula, Shallots | Sweet Potatoes | |
| September | Daffodils, Tulips, Blueberries, Hyacinths, Crocus, Ornamental Alliums, Fruit Trees, Apple Trees, Crape Myrtles | ||
| October | Rhubarb | ||
| November | |||
| December |
Fall plantings are listed with the month they go in. Ranges for each crop are on its page.
What grows well in zone 5a
With a season of about 161 days, zone 5a favors crops that mature quickly or start indoors: lettuce, peas, potatoes, onions and short-season tomatoes. Long crops such as melons and sweet potatoes need a variety with fewer days to harvest and a warm spot.
Zone and frost dates: our own calculation from NOAA NCEI records (Global Summary of the Year, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020); not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Crop timing: university extension guides, listed on each crop page.