What should I plant in March in Zone 5A?

In March in Zone 5A, you can start 22 crops indoors and plant 0 crops outside. The last frost in Zone 5A averages April 30, so planting schedules are timed around that date.

What can I harvest in March in Zone 5A?

1 crops are entering their harvest window in March in Zone 5A. Exact harvest timing depends on when crops were planted and current growing conditions.

Zone 5A — March

What to Plant in March in Zone 5A

March in Zone 5A: 22 crops to start indoors, 0 to plant or direct sow outside, and 1 entering harvest window. Last frost averages April 30. Reference city: Des Moines, IA.

Updated May 14, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals

22 Start Indoors

0 Plant Outside

1 Harvest

Start Indoors in March

Plant	Type	Start Indoors	Transplant Outside	Harvest Window
Black Salsify	root_vegetable	Mar 26	Apr 2	Jul 21 – Aug 5
Brilliant Celeriac	root_vegetable	Mar 19	Apr 30	Aug 18 – Aug 28
Carentan Leeks	allium	Mar 26	Apr 16	Jul 15 – Aug 4
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage	brassica	Mar 26	Apr 9	Jun 23
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root	vegetable	Mar 26	Apr 2	Apr 2 – Apr 1
Curly Parsley	herb	Mar 26	Apr 30	Jul 9 – Jul 19
Dutch Yellow Shallots	allium	Mar 26	Apr 2	Jul 1 – Jul 31
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage	brassica	Mar 26	Apr 9	Jun 13 – Jun 23
Flat-Leaf Parsley	herb	Mar 26	Apr 30	Jul 9 – Jul 29
French Red Shallots	allium	Mar 26	Apr 2	Jul 1 – Jul 31
Giant Musselburgh Leeks	allium	Mar 26	Apr 16	Jul 25 – Jul 30
Holland Red Shallots	allium	Mar 26	Apr 2	Jul 1 – Jul 31
Imperial Star Artichoke	vegetable	Mar 26	Apr 30	Jul 29 – Aug 8
Michihili Cabbage	brassica	Mar 26	Apr 9	Jun 18
OG American Flag Leeks	allium	Mar 26	Apr 16	Jul 15 – Jul 25
Red Acre Cabbage	brassica	Mar 26	Apr 9	Jun 23 – Jun 28
Shasta Daisy Flowers	flower	Mar 26	Apr 30	Aug 28 – Apr 30
Tatsoi	lettuce	Mar 19	Apr 2	Apr 27 – May 17
Victoria Rhubarb	vegetable	Mar 26	Apr 16	Apr 15
Viola and pansy edible flowers	flower	Mar 12	Apr 16	Jun 15 – Jun 25
Alexandria Alpine Strawberry	berry	Mar 26	May 7	Aug 15 – Sep 4
Pinkeye Purple Hull Cowpea	legume	Mar 19	May 14	Jul 8 – Jul 21

Plant Outside in March

No crops to plant outside in March for Zone 5A.

Harvest in March

Plant	Type	Planted / Sown	Harvest Window
Jewel Strawberries	berry	Apr 30	Mar 26 – Jun 4

Key Tasks for March in Zone 5A

1 Start 22 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
2 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.

Back to full Zone 5A planting calendar

February March in Zone 5A April

Get a Personalized March Calendar

SoilStack builds your exact planting schedule from your ZIP code — day-by-day tasks, weather prompts, and harvest tracking included.

Start Your Free Garden Calendar