When to plant tomato in zone 5b
A planting schedule for tomato in USDA hardiness zone 5b, where the typical last spring frost is around May 1, 2026 and the first fall frost around Oct 13, 2026. Dates are computed from NOAA frost normals for a representative location (ZIP 53187) — your exact dates depend on your address.
Tomato planting schedule for zone 5b
- Start seeds indoorsMar 28, 2026 – Sep 1, 2026
- Start hardening offMay 9, 2026 – Oct 6, 2026
- Transplant outdoorsMay 23, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
Playing it safe with tender crops? Spring frost holds off until about May 16, 2026 in roughly 9 years out of 10.
Zone 5b covers a lot of ground. Enter your ZIP for tomato dates worked out from your nearest weather station:
Free on one garden — no credit card. See the full tomato growing guide or the whole zone 5b calendar.
Tomato in other zones
More crops for zone 5b
Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (ZIP 53187) in zone 5b; your exact dates depend on your address. Schedules are guidance, not guarantees.