What to plant this week in Zone 5a
With an average last frost date of May 8, Zone 5a is now well into the growing season. Take advantage of this warm weather to sow Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini immediately.
The next 7 days
Sample: Minneapolis, MNToday
7/28
88°
69°
Wed
7/29
94°
69°
Thu
7/30
94°
71°
💧48%
Fri
7/31
81°
68°
💧78%
Sat
8/1
95°
65°
💧16%
Sun
8/2
95°
67°
Mon
8/3
104°
73°
Avg high 93°F
Rain total 0.1"
Humidity 55%
Wind 6.7 mph
🔥 Heat wave 2 days
In the ground
Sow this week
2 crops- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Move out
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Coming ripe
Harvest soon
55 crops- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fava (Broad) Bean
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Napa Cabbage
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shallot
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Do this now
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing bush beans and snapdragons every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Deadhead Cosmos and Cleome regularly to encourage more blooms throughout the summer.
- Thin out carrot and beet seedlings now to give remaining plants enough room to mature.
Keep watch
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids on basil, fennel, and beans as temperatures rise.
- Monitor tomato and pepper plants for early blight or fungal issues due to humidity.
- Check ground cherries and sweet potatoes for vine borers or root maggots.
Water
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots cool and reduce evaporation during this hot season.
One more thing
Harvest your first ripe cherry tomatoes today to enjoy their peak flavor while they are young and tender.
All year
Zone 5a planting calendar
147 cropsAverage planting and harvest windows for everything that grows in zone 5a — dates shift a week or two with the season, so treat them as a starting point and check the weekly guide above for what's open right now.
- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Transplant
- Harvest
Vegetables 67
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 5 – Aug 24 | 78d | |
| Artichoke | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 8 – May 22 | — | 165d | |
| Arugula | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | May 10 – Jul 1 | 35d | |
| Asparagus | — | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Banana Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 26 – Aug 24 | 73d | |
| Beefsteak Tomato | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Aug 3 – Sep 1 | 88d | |
| Beet | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | — | May 30 – Aug 14 | 60d | |
| Bell Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 21 – Sep 3 | 75d | |
| Bok Choy | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Jun 3 – Jul 11 | 45d | |
| Broccoli | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | — | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 18 – Jul 17 | 63d | |
| Brussels Sprouts | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | — | May 8 – May 22 | Aug 6 – Sep 9 | 100d | |
| Bush Bean | — | May 15 – Jul 26 | — | Jul 4 – Sep 24 | 55d | |
| Cabbage | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jul 3 – Aug 6 | 80d | |
| Carrot | — | Apr 17 – Jun 5 | — | Jun 16 – Aug 24 | 70d | |
| Cauliflower | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | — | May 8 – May 22 | Jul 2 – Aug 5 | 65d | |
| Cayenne Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 31 – Aug 24 | 75d | |
| Celery | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | May 8 – May 22 | Aug 16 – Sep 29 | 115d | |
| Cherry Tomato | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 9 – Aug 7 | 63d | |
| Collard Greens | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | May 8 – May 22 | Jun 18 – Aug 5 | 65d | |
| Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea) | — | May 22 – Jul 3 | — | Jul 21 – Oct 1 | 75d | |
| Cucumber | — | May 22 – Jul 21 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 11 – Sep 24 | 58d | |
| Edamame | — | May 22 – Jun 26 | — | Aug 5 – Sep 24 | 83d | |
| Eggplant | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 26 – Aug 29 | 75d | |
| Fava (Broad) Bean | — | Mar 27 – Apr 24 | — | Jun 5 – Aug 2 | 85d | |
| Flour Corn | — | May 15 – Jun 19 | — | Aug 13 – Oct 17 | 105d | |
| Garden Pea | — | Mar 27 – Apr 24 | — | May 21 – Jul 3 | 63d | |
| Garlic | — | Sep 10 – Oct 22 | — | May 8 – Oct 29 | 255d | |
| Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 30 – Oct 3 | 110d | |
| Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle) | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | — | Aug 30 – Oct 3 | 110d | |
| Habanero Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 20 – Sep 13 | 95d | |
| Jalapeño | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 26 – Aug 29 | 75d | |
| Kale | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Apr 24 – May 22 | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 13 – Jul 26 | 58d | |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | — | May 20 – Jul 2 | 48d | |
| Leek | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | May 8 – May 22 | Aug 16 – Sep 19 | 110d | |
| Lettuce | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Apr 10 – May 22 | Apr 24 – May 8 | May 25 – Jul 21 | 53d | |
| Lima Bean | — | May 22 – Jul 3 | — | Jul 26 – Oct 1 | 78d | |
| Loofah (Luffa) | — | May 22 – Jun 19 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 20 – Oct 29 | 120d | |
| Marconi Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 5 – Aug 29 | 80d | |
| Mustard Greens | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | May 15 – Jul 6 | 40d | |
| Napa Cabbage | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 13 – Jul 27 | 65d | |
| Onion | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | Jul 9 – Aug 12 | 100d | |
| Parsnip | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Aug 2 – Sep 19 | 110d | |
| Poblano Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 26 – Aug 24 | 73d | |
| Pole Bean | — | May 15 – Jul 16 | — | Jul 14 – Sep 24 | 65d | |
| Potato | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Jul 3 – Sep 19 | 95d | |
| Pumpkin | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | — | Aug 25 – Oct 3 | 108d | |
| Radish | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | — | May 2 – Jul 5 | 26d | |
| Rhubarb | — | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Roma Tomato | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 17 | 75d | |
| Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus) | — | May 29 – Jun 19 | May 29 – Jun 12 | Sep 6 – Oct 29 | 125d | |
| Rutabaga | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Jul 23 – Aug 30 | 95d | |
| Scallion (Bunching Onion) | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | — | Jun 9 – Aug 14 | 65d | |
| Scarlet Runner Bean | — | May 15 – Jul 16 | — | Jul 14 – Sep 24 | 65d | |
| Serrano Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 5 – Aug 24 | 78d | |
| Shallot | — | — | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | Jul 9 – Aug 2 | 95d | |
| Shishito Pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 16 – Aug 9 | 60d | |
| Snow Pea | — | Mar 27 – Apr 24 | — | May 26 – Jul 3 | 65d | |
| Spinach | — | Mar 27 – May 8 | — | May 1 – Jun 22 | 40d | |
| Sugar Snap Pea | — | Mar 27 – Apr 24 | — | May 21 – Jun 28 | 60d | |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 15 – Jun 26 | — | Jul 19 – Sep 24 | 78d | |
| Swiss Chard | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | Jun 13 – Aug 4 | 55d | |
| Tomatillo | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 29 – Sep 6 | 88d | |
| Tomato | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 14 – Aug 22 | 73d | |
| Turnip | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | May 20 – Jul 21 | 50d | |
| Winter Squash | — | May 22 – Jun 6 | — | Aug 20 – Sep 24 | 100d | |
| Yellow Summer Squash | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 22 – Jul 31 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 6 – Sep 24 | 50d | |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 22 – Jul 31 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 6 – Sep 24 | 50d |
Herbs 20
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anise Hyssop | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Basil | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 22 – Jul 16 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 11 – Sep 24 | 60d | |
| Chervil | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Jun 8 – Jul 21 | 53d | |
| Chives | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | 75d | |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Jun 3 – Jul 16 | 48d | |
| Dill | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | Jun 3 – Jul 30 | 48d | |
| Fennel | — | May 8 – Jun 26 | — | Jul 12 – Sep 24 | 78d | |
| French Tarragon | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 85d | |
| German Chamomile | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Jun 23 – Jul 26 | 63d | |
| Ginger | — | — | Jun 5 – Jul 3 | — | 270d | |
| Lemon Balm | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 80d | |
| Lemongrass | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 105d | |
| Mint | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 75d | |
| Oregano | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 85d | |
| Parsley | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | Jul 3 – Aug 20 | 80d | |
| Sage | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 83d | |
| Shiso (Japanese Basil) | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 15 – Jul 1 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 24 – Sep 24 | 78d | |
| Summer Savory | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 22 – Jul 16 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 21 – Sep 24 | 65d | |
| Thai Basil | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 22 – Jul 11 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 21 – Sep 24 | 68d | |
| Thyme | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 135d |
Fruits 23
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | — | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | 3.5 yr | |
| Apricot | — | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | 3.5 yr | |
| Black Walnut | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 4.5 yr | |
| Blackberry | — | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | — | 1.2 yr | |
| Blueberry | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 22 – Jun 26 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 31 – Sep 24 | 80d | |
| Cranberry | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Elderberry | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| English (Persian) Walnut | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 4.5 yr | |
| Gooseberry | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Grape | — | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Ground Cherry | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 19 – Aug 12 | 70d | |
| Honeyberry (Haskap) | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Honeydew Melon | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 22 – Jun 16 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 10 – Sep 24 | 90d | |
| Pear | — | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | 3.5 yr | |
| Pecan | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 4.5 yr | |
| Plum | — | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | 3.5 yr | |
| Raspberry | — | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | — | 1.2 yr | |
| Red/Black Currant | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Strawberry | — | — | Apr 10 – May 8 | — | 243d | |
| Sweet Cherry | — | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | 3.5 yr | |
| Tart (Pie) Cherry | — | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | 3.5 yr | |
| Watermelon | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 22 – Jun 21 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 5 – Sep 24 | 85d |
Flowers 37
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Button (Cornflower) | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — | Jun 14 – Jul 31 | 68d | |
| Bee Balm | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Black-Eyed Susan | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 110d | |
| Borage | — | May 8 – Jul 16 | — | Jul 2 – Sep 24 | 63d | |
| Butterfly Milkweed | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Calendula | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | — | Jun 8 – Jul 21 | 53d | |
| Cleome (Spider Flower) | — | May 15 – Jul 11 | — | Jul 9 – Sep 24 | 65d | |
| Cosmos | — | May 15 – Jun 26 | — | Jul 14 – Sep 24 | 75d | |
| Dahlia | — | — | May 15 – May 29 | Aug 13 – Sep 26 | 105d | |
| Delphinium | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| French Marigold | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | May 15 – Jul 26 | May 15 – May 29 | Jun 29 – Sep 24 | 53d | |
| Garden Geranium (Zonal) | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 27 | 80d | |
| Garden Phlox | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Garden Rose (Shrub) | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Garden Verbena | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 15 – Jun 26 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 24 – Sep 24 | 80d | |
| Hardy Hibiscus | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Hearts & Flowers (Heartleaf Iceplant) | — | — | May 15 – Jun 5 | — | 75d | |
| Hollyhock | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | Apr 24 – May 8 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Lantana | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 27 | 80d | |
| Lavender | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian) | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | — | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 30 – Oct 3 | 110d | |
| Nasturtium | — | May 15 – Jul 21 | — | Jul 4 – Sep 24 | 58d | |
| New England Aster | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Oriental Poppy | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine | — | — | May 22 – Jun 19 | Jul 21 – Sep 17 | 75d | |
| Panicle Hydrangea | — | — | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Pansy | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | Jun 19 – Jul 23 | 80d | |
| Petunia | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 27 | 80d | |
| Purple Coneflower | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Salvia | — | — | May 15 – May 29 | — | 110d | |
| Sedum ('Autumn Joy'-type) | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Snapdragon | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jul 13 – Aug 16 | 90d | |
| Sunflower | — | May 15 – Jun 19 | — | Jul 24 – Sep 27 | 85d | |
| Sweet Alyssum | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | May 8 – May 22 | Jun 13 – Jul 21 | 55d | |
| Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle) | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | May 15 – Jul 11 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 14 – Sep 24 | 68d | |
| Yarrow | — | — | May 8 – Jun 5 | — | 135d | |
| Zinnia | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | May 15 – Jul 11 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 14 – Sep 24 | 68d |
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