← How to grow mustard greens
Planting Calendar · Zone 5B

When to plant mustard greens in zone 5b

In USDA zone 5b, sow mustard greens around Mar 31, and harvest from Apr 25.

Growing SeasonZone 5b
Last frost ~Apr 28First frost ~Oct 22Today
Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk
MARAPRMAYJUN
Sow Mar 31 · First harvest Apr 25 · Wrap by May 23
Last spring frostApr 28
Direct sowMar 31
First harvestApr 25
Last harvestMay 23
Fall succession sowSep 10
First fall frostOct 22

Zone 5b covers 25 days of last-frost dates. We measured Davenport, IA at Apr 16 and Idaho Falls, ID at May 11. Give us your town or ZIP and we'll use ten years of daily lows recorded at your own coordinates instead of the middle of that range.

Why these dates work in zone 5b

Zone 5b's last spring frost averages Apr 28 and first fall frost Oct 22 — about 177 frost-free days. Mustard Greens tolerates light frost, so you can sow ahead of the last-frost date and keep harvesting into the cooler fall. There's also room for a fall succession sowing around Sep 10 for a second harvest before frost.

Common questions

How long does mustard greens take to grow in zone 5b?

Mustard Greens matures in about 25–40 days from sowing. In zone 5b that means sowing around Mar 31 and first picking around Apr 25.

Will mustard greens survive frost in zone 5b?

Yes — mustard greens tolerates light frost. In zone 5b you can sow a little before the last frost (around Apr 28) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Oct 22).

Can I plant a second crop of mustard greens in zone 5b?

Yes — in zone 5b there's time for a fall sowing around Sep 10 for a second harvest before frost.

For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full mustard greens growing guide →