Zone 5b planting calendar

What to plant in August: zone 5b

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 5b: last spring frost around May 5, first fall frost around October 5. 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 5
Typical first frost: October 5
Winter lows: -15 to -10 °F
Zone 5b Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Direct sow for fall

  • Bush beanaround Aug 1

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Peaaround Aug 6

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

  • Carrotaround Aug 7

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

  • Beetaround Aug 11

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

  • Dillaround Aug 11

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

  • Spinacharound Aug 16

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

  • Lettucearound Aug 16

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

  • Radisharound Aug 19

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.

  • Cilantroaround Aug 21

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

Transplant for fall

  • Broccoliaround Aug 12

    Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 10-05.

  • Kalearound Aug 22

    Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 10-05.

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