Zone 5b Planting Calendar

Every listed crop, timed for zone 5b. Not sure this is your zone?Look it up by ZIP code.

This zone has a distinct planting calendar — windows below are sourced from www.brecks.com rather than a single frost date.

Vegetables & Herbs

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. harvest
Garlic4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Dec 21–Dec 28~240 days after direct-sowing
Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 22–Mar 1May 24–May 31~135 days after transplanting
Celery4 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 1–Mar 8Apr 26–May 3~120 days after transplanting
Leek9 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 1–Mar 8Apr 19–Apr 26~110 days after transplanting
Rosemary1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 1–Mar 8May 24–May 31~90 days after transplanting
Pepper1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22May 24–May 31~75 days after transplanting
Onion9 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22Apr 19–Apr 26~100 days after transplanting
Eggplant1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22May 24–May 31~75 days after transplanting
Sweet Potato~4 sq ft each—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22May 31–Jun 7~110 days after transplanting
Thyme4 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22May 17–May 24~90 days after transplanting
Oregano4 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22May 17–May 24~80 days after transplanting
Chives9 per sq ft—EitherMar 15–Mar 22Apr 26–May 3~60 days after planting
Parsley4 per sq ft—EitherMar 15–Mar 22Apr 26–May 3~75 days after planting
Sage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22May 24–May 31~75 days after transplanting
Collard Greens1 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29Apr 19–Apr 26~70 days after planting
Tomato1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 29–Apr 5May 24–May 31~70 days after transplanting
Kale1 per sq ft—EitherMar 29–Apr 5Apr 19–Apr 26~60 days after planting
Pea8 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 29–Apr 5~60 days after direct-sowing
Broccoli1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 29–Apr 5Apr 26–May 3~65 days after transplanting
Cabbage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 29–Apr 5Apr 26–May 3~70 days after transplanting
Basil4 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 29–Apr 5May 24–May 31~60 days after transplanting
Cauliflower1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 29–Apr 5Apr 26–May 3~70 days after transplanting
Brussels Sprouts1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 29–Apr 5Apr 26–May 3~95 days after transplanting
Arugula9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 5–Apr 12~40 days after direct-sowing
Bok Choy1 per sq ft—EitherApr 5–Apr 12May 10–May 17~50 days after planting
Kohlrabi4 per sq ft—EitherApr 5–Apr 12Apr 26–May 3~55 days after planting
Fennel (Florence/bulbing)1 per sq ft—EitherApr 5–Apr 12May 24–May 31~90 days after planting
Lettuce4 per sq ft—EitherApr 12–Apr 19Apr 26–May 3~45 days after planting
Spinach9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 12–Apr 19~40 days after direct-sowing
Swiss Chard4 per sq ft—EitherApr 12–Apr 19Apr 26–May 3~55 days after planting
Radish16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 12–Apr 19~25 days after direct-sowing
Okra1 per sq ft—EitherApr 12–Apr 19May 24–May 31~58 days after planting
Cucumber2 per sq ft—EitherApr 19–Apr 26May 17–May 24~55 days after planting
Zucchini1 per sq ft—EitherApr 19–Apr 26May 17–May 24~50 days after planting
Carrot16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 19–Apr 26~70 days after direct-sowing
Beet9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 19–Apr 26~55 days after direct-sowing
Cantaloupe~4 sq ft each—EitherApr 19–Apr 26May 24–May 31~80 days after planting
Turnip9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 19–Apr 26~50 days after direct-sowing
Mustard Greens4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 19–Apr 26~40 days after direct-sowing
Cilantro9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 26–May 3~50 days after direct-sowing
Potato1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 26–May 3~90 days after direct-sowing
Scallion (Green Onion)9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 26–May 3~60 days after direct-sowing
Dill4 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 3–May 10~55 days after direct-sowing
Winter Squash~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~100 days after direct-sowing
Pumpkin~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~110 days after direct-sowing
Bush Beans9 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~55 days after direct-sowing
Sweet Corn1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~75 days after direct-sowing
Watermelon~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 24–May 31~85 days after direct-sowing

Flowers

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. bloom
Daffodil (Narcissus)5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Crocus12 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Hyacinth5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Ornamental Allium5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~195 days after direct-sowing
Dutch Iris4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~210 days after direct-sowing
Tulip7 per sq ft—Direct sow—Oct~180 days after direct-sowing
Pansy / Viola2 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 15–Feb 22Apr 26–May 3~65 days after transplanting
Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 1–Mar 8May 24–May 31~80 days after transplanting
Petunia1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 8–Mar 15May 24–May 31~70 days after transplanting
Snapdragon2 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 8–Mar 15May 3–May 10~90 days after transplanting
Purple Coneflower~4 sq ft each—EitherMar 8–Mar 15May 24–May 31~365 days after planting
Salvia (Scarlet Sage)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 15–Mar 22May 24–May 31~80 days after transplanting
Calendula1 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29Apr 26–May 3~50 days after planting
Black-Eyed Susan1 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29Apr 19–Apr 26~70 days after planting
Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)3 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29Apr 26–May 3~75 days after planting
Sweet Alyssum3 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29May 10–May 17~40 days after planting
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29May 17–May 24~80 days after planting
Portulaca (Moss Rose)1 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29May 17–May 24~60 days after planting
Celosia2 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29May 17–May 24~80 days after planting
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 22–Mar 29May 17–May 24~90 days after transplanting
Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)2 per sq ft—Start indoorsMar 22–Mar 29May 24–May 31~98 days after transplanting
Cleome (Spider Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherMar 22–Mar 29May 24–May 31~75 days after planting
Marigold4 per sq ft—EitherMar 29–Apr 5May 17–May 24~50 days after planting
Sweet Pea2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 29–Apr 5~85 days after direct-sowing
Cosmos1 per sq ft—EitherApr 5–Apr 12May 17–May 24~70 days after planting
Moonflower2 per sq ft—EitherApr 5–Apr 12May 10–May 17~90 days after planting
Zinnia1 per sq ft—EitherApr 12–Apr 19May 17–May 24~65 days after planting
Larkspur1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 12–Apr 19~95 days after direct-sowing
Hollyhock~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 26–May 3~180 days after direct-sowing
California Poppy2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 26–May 3~80 days after direct-sowing
Lupine~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 26–May 3~80 days after direct-sowing
Gladiolus2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 26–May 3~90 days after direct-sowing
Ranunculus5 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 3–May 10~105 days after direct-sowing
Sunflower~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 10–May 17~80 days after direct-sowing
Nasturtium1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~55 days after direct-sowing
Four O'Clock~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~70 days after direct-sowing
Verbena~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~80 days after direct-sowing
Desert Marigold1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 17–May 24~75 days after direct-sowing
Morning Glory~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—May 24–May 31~75 days after direct-sowing
Dahlia1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 24–May 31~90 days after direct-sowing
Lantana~4 sq ft each—Buy as a start—May 24–May 31~90 days after transplanting
Hyacinth Bean Vine1 per sq ft—Direct sow—May 31–Jun 7~90 days after direct-sowing