Zone 5b Planting Calendar 2026Complete Seed Starting Schedule
Zone 5b has a well-rounded growing season of nearly 195 days. Warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers perform excellently, and the earlier last frost allows for an extended spring planting window. Includes Denver, Kansas City, and St. Louis region.
Last Frost
April 7
First Fall Frost
October 15
Growing Season
191 days
2026 Monthly Planting Schedule
Your month-by-month guide for Zone 5b
1January
🌱 Indoors: Start early crops indoors
☀️ Notes: Plan garden, order seeds
2February
🌱 Indoors: Start main season crops
🌍 Direct: Cold hardy crops direct sow
☀️ Notes: Prepare soil when workable
3March
🌱 Indoors: Continue seed starting
🌍 Direct: Direct sow cool season
☀️ Notes: Prepare beds
4April
🌱 Indoors: Finish warm season indoors
🌍 Direct: Direct sow beans, corn
☀️ Notes: Main transplant month
5May
🌍 Direct: Succession plant
☀️ Notes: Plant out all seedlings
6June
🌱 Indoors: Start fall crops
🌍 Direct: Plant fall vegetables
☀️ Notes: Maintain and water
7July
🌱 Indoors: Fall transplant seedlings
🌍 Direct: Plant fall crops
☀️ Notes: Begin fall planning
8August
🌍 Direct: Plant fall greens
☀️ Notes: Fall garden planting
9September
🌍 Direct: Plant garlic
☀️ Notes: Fall planting continues
10October
🌱 Indoors: Order seeds
☀️ Notes: Clean up, prepare winter
Recommended Varieties for Zone 5b
Top-performing varieties adapted to your zone
tomato
pepper
lettuce
cucumber
squash
Best Crops for Zone 5b
Top performers in your zone's climate
💡 Zone Tip: In Zone 5b you can often get two successions of cool-season crops — one in spring and one in fall. Tomatoes can be planted by late April.
Major Cities in Zone 5b
These areas share your hardiness zone
Zone 5b on the Map
Cities in your zone are highlighted. Click any marker to explore neighboring zone calendars.
Calculate Your 2026 Schedule
Looking for a different zone?
Browse All 17 USDA Hardiness Zones →