Zone 5a Frost Dates and Planting Schedule

In USDA zone 5a, the typical last frost is May 4 and the typical first frost is October 4: the medians across its 2,529 ZIP codes, from NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the station nearest each one.

By HarvestMath Editors October 1, 2026 Share:

Typical first fall frost

Oct 4

range Sep 19 to Oct 15

Typical last spring frost

May 4

range Apr 25 to May 25

Median and 10th to 90th percentile across 2,529 ZIP codes in zone 5a, from each ZIP code's nearest NOAA station (1991–2020 normals). The spread is 30 days in spring.

A hardiness zone is a winter-cold rating: the average coldest night of the year. It doesn't predict when frost ends in spring. Two ZIP codes in zone 5a can be weeks apart on their last frost, so the dates here are a typical range, not your date.

Your exact frost dates

Find your dates by

US ZIP code

Enter a ZIP code or pick your hardiness zone to see your frost dates.

Zone 5a Planting Schedule

Typical for zone 5a, counted from the zone's typical May 4 last frost and Oct 4 first frost with the Season Planner's crop timing. Enter your ZIP code for your exact dates.

Typical for zone 5a

Mar 9–Mar 23 Start tomatoes indoors

Tomato seed needs 6 to 8 weeks under lights before it goes out.
Mar 23–Apr 6 Sow peas outdoors

Peas take cold soil and light frost in stride.
Apr 6–Apr 20 Sow leaf lettuce outdoors

Sow again every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply.
May 11–May 18 Transplant tomatoes and peppers

Once nights stay above 50°F.
May 11–May 18 Sow bush beans

Beans rot in cold soil: wait for 60°F at 4 inches deep.
Jul 12–Jul 26 Sow a fall crop

Kale, carrots, spinach or lettuce, 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Oct 11–Oct 18 Plant garlic

Cloves go in 1 to 2 weeks after the first killing frost, for next summer.

Zone 5a Cities and Their Frost Dates

Same zone, different dates: each city's own station.

Minneapolis, MN:last frost Apr 30, first Oct 8
Madison, WI:last frost May 1, first Oct 10
Sioux Falls, SD:last frost May 1, first Oct 6
Billings, MT:last frost May 10, first Oct 1
Burlington, VT:last frost Apr 29, first Oct 15
Anchorage, AK:last frost May 1, first Sep 29
Duluth, MN:last frost May 12, first Oct 6
Bozeman, MT:last frost May 26, first Sep 16

Zone 5a Frost FAQ

When is the last frost in zone 5a?

Typically around May 4, but it ranges from April 25 to May 25 across the zone's ZIP codes (10th to 90th percentile). Enter your ZIP code for your own station's date.

When is the first frost in zone 5a?

Typically around October 4, ranging September 19 to October 15 across zone 5a.

When do you plant tomatoes in zone 5a?

Typically May 11 to May 18, a week or two after the zone's typical last frost. Your own last frost can be weeks either side of that.

Neighboring Zones

Zone 5a covers ZIP codes in Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

A garden in a zone 5a climate — An illustration of a zone 5a garden.

Free book · 23 pages, PDF

The Spacing & Planting Cheat Sheet

When to start, when to plant, how far apart.