What to plant in March in zone 5a
75 crops to start indoors, direct sow, or transplant in March in USDA hardiness zone 5a. Typical last spring frost around May 4, 2026, first fall frost around Oct 6, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
Zone 5a covers a lot of ground. Enter your ZIP for March dates from your nearest weather station and a month-by-month calendar:
Start indoors
Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.
- Achillea
- Aji Pepper
- Angelica
- Bee Balm
- Bishop's Flower
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Raab
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Calendula
- Cape Gooseberry
- Cardoon
- Catnip
- Cauliflower
- Celtuce / Stem Lettuce
- Chicory
- Chiltepin Pepper
- Chinese Broccoli
- Chinese Cabbage
- Chrysanthemum Greens
- Clasping Coneflower
- Creeping Thyme
- Dandelion
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Ethiopian Eggplant
- Ethiopian Kale
- Evening Primrose
- Ground Cherry
- Hybrid Coneflower
- Hyssop
- Japanese Mugwort
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna Mustard
- Korean Mint
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Mint
- Lettuce
- Lovage
- Malabar Spinach
- Marjoram
- Mexican Tarragon
- Mibuna
- Mitsuba
- Mizuna
- Oregano
- Paracress
- Pennyroyal Mint
- Pepper (Habanero)
- Pepper (Hot)
- Pepper (Sweet & Hot)
- Pepper (Tabasco)
- Purple Yu Choy Sum
- Radicchio
- Roman Chamomile
- Romanesco Broccoli
- Roselle
- Rue
- Russian Kale
- Russian Sage
- Salad Burnet
- Savory
- Sheep Sorrel
- Soapwort
- Stevia
- Sweet Woodruff
- Tansy
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vietnamese Culantro
- Water Pepper
- Wormwood
- Yarrow
- Yu Choy Sum
Keep going
Timings use NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (Mexico, ME) in zone 5a, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.