USDA Zone 5A
Moderate cold. Parts of Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Colorado. Wide variety of vegetables and many perennials thrive.
Temperature Range
What Does Zone 5A Mean?
USDA Hardiness Zone 5A means your area's average annual extreme minimum winter temperature falls between -20°F to -15°F (-29°C to -26°C). This is the coldest temperature you can typically expect in a normal winter, based on 30 years of climate data.
Your zone primarily determines which perennial plants (trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and fruit bushes) can survive outdoors year-round. It's also strongly correlated with your frost dates, which are the foundation for calculating when to plant annual vegetables and flowers. Learn more about what hardiness zones mean.
Enter your zip code on our homepage tool to see personalized planting dates for all 50 plants based on your specific location within Zone 5A.
States in Zone 5A
These states contain areas classified as Zone 5A:
Best Plants for Zone 5A
These plants are well-suited to Zone 5A conditions. Click any plant for detailed growing information and state-specific planting dates.
Tomatoes
America's favorite garden vegetable (technically a fruit). Nothing beats a...
Root VegetableGarlic
Plant in fall, harvest in summer. Garlic is one of the most rewarding crops for...
Root VegetablePotatoes
Incredibly satisfying to grow. There's nothing quite like digging up your own...
Warm-Season VegetableBeans (Green/Snap)
Easy, productive, and they even improve your soil by fixing nitrogen. A perfect...
Cool-Season VegetableKale
The toughest green in the garden. Kale laughs at frost and actually tastes...
Root VegetableCarrots
Patience is the secret ingredient. Carrots are slow to germinate but deliver...
Cool-Season VegetablePeas
One of the earliest crops you can plant. Kids love picking and eating them...
Cool-Season VegetableLettuce
Fast-growing and forgiving. Plant in spring and fall for a nearly year-round...
Cool-Season VegetableBroccoli
A nutrition powerhouse that thrives in cool weather. Harvest the main head,...
Annual FlowerSunflowers
Few things bring more joy than a row of sunflowers turning their faces to the...
BulbDaffodils
Deer-proof, squirrel-proof, and virtually indestructible. Daffodils naturalize...
Perennial VegetableAsparagus
A perennial that produces for 20+ years once established. Plant crowns in...
Frequently Asked Questions
The late last frost (often early to mid-May) delays warm-season planting while northern states with shorter seasons are already growing. Your advantage is a longer fall than zones 3-4 — the first frost often doesn't arrive until mid-October, giving you a solid 150+ day window. The key is maximizing both ends: start indoors early, and plant fall crops in late July.
Many fruit trees thrive in Zone 5A: apples, pears, cherries, and plums all do well. The cold winters provide the chill hours that fruit trees need to set blooms. Peaches are marginal — choose cold-hardy varieties like Reliance or Contender. Blueberries are excellent if your soil is acidic enough. Raspberries and blackberries produce abundantly.