Spring Planting Guide for Zone 5b: When to Sow Your Seeds & Start Your Garden Growing 🌸

Welcome, feral garden friends! If you’re in Zone 5b, you're probably familiar with the excitement (and impatience) that comes with waiting out the last frost. Whether you're growing a tiny urban patch or a big, dreamy homestead, timing your planting is everything.

In Zone 5b, our average last frost date is around May 15, and the first frost hits around October 15. That gives us a growing window of roughly 150 days. Planning your planting schedule around these dates helps you make the most of your garden.

Below you’ll find a seasonal planting table for classic veggies, herbs, and perennials like strawberries and asparagus. Let’s dig in! 🧤

Pro Tip: Keep in mind that microclimates can play a huge role in gardening. Do you have fences or trees/shrubs providing shade and wind protection? Are you near a water source like a creek or pond? Too close to water and you may experience freeze dates earlier or later than those who do not live near a creek or pond. With wind protection you may have a slightly warmer growing area. Pay attention to your space and plan and adapt accordingly. Every year I make notes about what worked well and what didn't. That way I can change it up for the future growing seasons. I generally grow in raised beds and like to dedicate at a couple of them to perennial crops like rhubarb, strawberries, and asparagus. This is not necessary but helpful when it comes time to clean up. Both beds get dappled shade and are fenced in. My yard is skinny, long, and slightly awkward but the wood fence does provide some wind protection and keep my microclimate slightly warmer.  

I have had great success with both asparagus and strawberries from bare root crowns. It's more cost effective and gives you more control over the variety. A little patience is needed with this method! I also recommend Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for all your vegetable and fruit seed needs. NOT affiliated just a happy long term customer of theirs. Highly recommend buying your perennials from a reputable local nursery whenever possible. 

🌸 Harden Off Seedlings
Before transplanting indoor-started plants (like tomatoes and peppers), let them adjust to the outdoors gradually over a week. Set them outside for a few hours a day in increasing sunlight. I usually leave mine in the garage over night for the first week or so. 

🌱 Succession Planting = More Veggies
Plant fast-growing crops like lettuce, spinach, peas, and radishes every couple of weeks so you can harvest continuously. 

🧊 Watch the Weather
Even if the calendar says it’s safe to plant, a surprise cold snap can hurt tender seedlings. Keep an eye on local forecasts and have row covers or cloches ready.

🌿 Companion Planting for the Win
Grow basil near tomatoes, chives near carrots, and thyme with cabbage to improve growth and deter pests naturally. I have another post all about who likes who and which veggies play best together! 

🍓 Perennial Love
Crops like strawberries and asparagus take some time to establish, but they’ll reward you for years to come. Patience = delicious payoffs. 

Remember when starting from seed you must be patient. Don't lose hope, keep watering and watching and you WILL be rewarded. 

🌻 Happy planting, friends! May your gardens be full, your herbs fragrant, and your tomatoes sweet as summer. Don’t forget to pause and smell the parsley. 💚