Zone 3b planting calendar

What to plant in May: zone 3b

Zone 3b averages its last spring frost around May 25 and its first fall frost around September 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Last frost: May 25
First frost: September 15
Winter lows: -35 to -30 °F
Zone 3b Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Direct sow

  • Carrotaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Kalearound May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Beetaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Onionaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Broccoliaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Chivesaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Kohlrabiaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Bok Choyaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Scallion (Green Onion)around May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Parsniparound May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Salsifyaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Sorrelaround May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Flax (Seed)around May 4

    Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.

  • Potatoaround May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Cilantroaround May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Parsleyaround May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Swiss Chardaround May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Collardsaround May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Burdock (Gobo)around May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Chamomile (German)around May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Carawayaround May 11

    Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.

  • Quinoaaround May 18

    Soil is ready -1 weeks before last frost.

  • Dillaround May 25

    Soil is ready 0 weeks after last frost.

Transplant out

  • Kalearound May 4

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Broccoliaround May 4

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Chivesaround May 4

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Strawberryaround May 4

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Kohlrabiaround May 4

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Bok Choyaround May 4

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Scallion (Green Onion)around May 4

    Goes out 3 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Lettucearound May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Onionaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Parsleyaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Mintaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Cabbagearound May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Caulifloweraround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Swiss Chardaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Collardsaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Leekaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Napa Cabbagearound May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Romanescoaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Endivearound May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Escarolearound May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Radicchioaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Sorrelaround May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

  • Chamomile (German)around May 11

    Goes out 2 weeks before last frost. It takes the cold.

Start indoors

  • Pumpkinaround May 4

    3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-25). Count back 100 days from your first frost to time a Halloween harvest. Cure cut pumpkins in the sun for 10 days and leave 3 in of stem so they store for months.

Plan & order

  • Order fall seedaround May 18

    Fall brassicas and greens get sown in the heat of summer. Have the seed on hand before that window opens.

Start indoors for fall

  • Broccoliaround May 21

    Fall broccoli window opens. Sow trays any time in the next four weeks.

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