Gardening in USDA Zone 5
Your complete guide to growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits in Zone 5. Find the best varieties for your climate and get zone-specific planting dates.
Last Frost
April 30
Safe to plant after
First Frost
October 5
Harvest before
Growing Season
155 days
Varieties
1077
across 28 categories
Growing Season
Plant after April 30 · Harvest before October 5
Zone 5 Coverage
What to Grow in Zone 5
Best Alliums for Zone 5
35 varieties
Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives.
Best Beans & Legumes for Zone 5
58 varieties
Bush beans, pole beans, lentils, and more. Easy-to-grow protein for every garden.
Best Berries & Fruits for Zone 5
25 varieties
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and small fruits for the home garden.
Best Brassicas for Zone 5
49 varieties
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi.
Best Corn for Zone 5
31 varieties
Sweet corn, popcorn, flour corn, and ornamental varieties.
Best Cucumbers for Zone 5
30 varieties
Slicing, pickling, and specialty cucumbers for every garden size.
Best Eggplants for Zone 5
30 varieties
Globe, Japanese, Thai, and specialty eggplant varieties.
Best Flowers for Zone 5
53 varieties
Annual, perennial, and cut flowers to beautify your garden year-round.
Best Fruit Trees for Zone 5
28 varieties
Apple, pear, cherry, peach, and citrus trees for the home orchard.
Best Grasses & Bamboo for Zone 5
17 varieties
Ornamental grasses, lawn grasses, and bamboo varieties for structure and movement.
Best Ground Covers for Zone 5
25 varieties
Low-growing plants that spread to cover soil, reduce weeds, and prevent erosion.
Best Herbs for Zone 5
42 varieties
Culinary and medicinal herbs. Growing guides from basil to thyme.
Best Lettuce & Salad Greens for Zone 5
52 varieties
Romaine, butterhead, looseleaf, and specialty salad greens for every season.
Best Melons for Zone 5
38 varieties
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and specialty melons.
Best Microgreens for Zone 5
36 varieties
Nutrient-dense seedlings harvested in 7-14 days. The fastest crop you can grow.
Best Native Wildflowers for Zone 5
21 varieties
Region-native wildflowers that support pollinators and require minimal maintenance.
Best Nut Trees for Zone 5
23 varieties
Pecan, walnut, almond, hazelnut, and chestnut trees for home orchards.
Best Ornamental Trees for Zone 5
39 varieties
Flowering and decorative trees for landscaping. Dogwoods, magnolias, Japanese maples, and more.
Best Peas for Zone 5
35 varieties
Snap peas, snow peas, shelling peas, and pea shoots.
Best Peppers for Zone 5
71 varieties
Hot peppers, sweet peppers, and everything in between. Find your perfect heat level.
Best Root Vegetables for Zone 5
43 varieties
Carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and other underground crops.
Best Roses for Zone 5
55 varieties
Hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers, shrub roses, and old garden varieties.
Best Shade Trees for Zone 5
35 varieties
Large canopy trees for shade, privacy, and property value. Oaks, maples, elms, and more.
Best Shrubs & Hedges for Zone 5
36 varieties
Flowering and evergreen shrubs for borders, hedges, and foundation plantings.
Best Squash & Cucumbers for Zone 5
51 varieties
Summer squash, winter squash, zucchini, and cucumbers.
Best Tomatoes for Zone 5
88 varieties
From heirloom beefsteaks to cherry varieties. Growing guides for every tomato type.
Best Tropical Plants for Zone 5
4 varieties
Exotic tropical plants including palms, gingers, hibiscus, and bird of paradise.
Best Vines & Climbers for Zone 5
27 varieties
Climbing plants for trellises, arbors, and walls. Clematis, wisteria, jasmine, and more.
Monthly Planting Guides — Zone 5
See what to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each month.