Zone 5a planting calendar

What to plant in August: zone 5a

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 5a: last spring frost around May 10, first fall frost around October 1. Zones are set by winter lows, not frost dates, so two gardens in the same zone can be weeks apart. Measure your ZIP below for dates from your area's own 30-year record.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Typical last frost: May 10
Typical first frost: October 1
Winter lows: -20 to -15 °F
Zone 5a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Direct sow for fall

  • Peaaround Aug 2

    Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Carrotaround Aug 3

    Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy: light freezes sweeten it.

  • Beetaround Aug 7

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Dillaround Aug 7

    Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Spinacharound Aug 12

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.

  • Lettucearound Aug 12

    Counts back 50 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Radish2 sowings: Aug 15 and Aug 29

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Cilantroaround Aug 17

    Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

Transplant for fall

  • Broccoliaround Aug 8

    Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 10-01.

  • Kalearound Aug 18

    Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 10-01.

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