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Zone 5B — March

What to Plant in March in Zone 5B

March in Zone 5B: 20 crops to start indoors, 78 to plant or direct sow outside, and 0 entering harvest window. Last frost averages May 4. Reference city: Kansas City, MO.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
20 Start Indoors
78 Plant Outside
0 Harvest
Frost risk: High

Frost risk is still high in Zone 5B. The last spring frost typically lands on May 4, with the earliest plausible clearance around April 20. Hold tender crops indoors a while longer.

See full Zone 5B frost outlook →

Start Indoors in March

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Black Salsify root vegetable Mar 30 Apr 6 Perennial — see plant page
Carentan Leeks allium Mar 30 Apr 20 Jul 19 – Aug 8
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Mar 30 Apr 13 Jun 27
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root vegetable Mar 30 Apr 6 Perennial — see plant page
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Mar 30 Apr 6 Jul 5 – Aug 4
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Mar 30 Apr 13 Jun 17 – Jun 27
French Red Shallots allium Mar 30 Apr 6 Jul 5 – Aug 4
Giant Musselburgh Leeks allium Mar 30 Apr 20 Jul 29 – Aug 3
Holland Red Shallots allium Mar 30 Apr 6 Jul 5 – Aug 4
Michihili Cabbage brassica Mar 30 Apr 13 Jun 22
OG American Flag Leeks allium Mar 30 Apr 20 Jul 19 – Jul 29
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Mar 30 Apr 13 Jun 27 – Jul 2
Victoria Rhubarb vegetable Mar 30 Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Viola and pansy edible flowers flower Mar 16 Apr 20 Jun 19 – Jun 29
Alexandria Alpine Strawberry berry Mar 30 May 11 Perennial — see plant page
Brilliant Celeriac root vegetable Mar 23 May 4 Aug 22 – Sep 1
Curly Parsley herb Mar 30 May 4 Jul 13 – Jul 23
Flat-Leaf Parsley herb Mar 30 May 4 Jul 13 – Aug 2
Imperial Star Artichoke vegetable Mar 30 May 4 Aug 2 – Aug 12
Shasta Daisy Flowers flower Mar 30 May 4 Perennial — see plant page

Plant Outside in March

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
All Year Round lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 31 – Jun 9
America lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 10 – May 22
Astro Arugula lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Apr 18 – May 7
Black Seeded Simpson lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 13
Blonde de Paris lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 19
Blue Curled Scotch lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 22 – May 27
Bok Choy lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 27
Broadleaf Classic lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Broadleaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Perennial — see plant page
Burgundy Boston lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 22
Buttercrunch lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 13 – May 22
Butterhead Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – Jun 1
Canary Yellow lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) brassica Direct Sow Mar 28 Apr 27 – May 17
Crisphead lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Jun 4 – Jun 11
Curly Kale lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 22 – Jun 1
Dark Green Romaine lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 6
Dutch Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 7 – May 17
Endive / Escarole lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – Jun 1
Florida Broadleaf lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 7 – May 17
Fordhook Giant lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 22
French Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 7 – May 17
Full Heart Batavian lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Jun 21 – Jun 26
Georgia Southern Collard Greens lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 16
Giant Red lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12
Green Ice lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12
Green Wave lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12
Hot Pink lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Iceberg lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Jun 4 – Jun 11
Kagraner Sommer lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 25
Lacinato Kale lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 1
Large Leaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Perennial — see plant page
Leaf Lettuce Mix lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 22
Little Gem lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 23
Lollo Bionda lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Lollo Rossa lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 20 – May 23
Magenta Sunset lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 22 – May 27
Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 27
Matador Viking lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 15
Mesclun Mix lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Apr 18 – Apr 27
Mizuna lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 7 – May 17
Monstrueux de Viroflay lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 17
Morris Heading lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Jun 11 – Jun 16
Mustard Greens lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 2 – May 17
Mâche (Corn Salad) lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 20
Napa Cabbage brassica Direct Sow Mar 28 Jun 6 – Jun 26
New Zealand Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Noble Giant lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 13 – May 17
Old Fashion lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 17
Orange lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 22
Premier lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Radicchio lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 21
Rainbow Mix lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Red Leaf Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 22
Red Romaine lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 6
Red Russian Kale lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Red Vein Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Perennial — see plant page
Red-Stem Malabar Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 22 – Jun 6
Romaine Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Jun 1 – Jun 11
Ruby Red lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 22 – May 27
Salad Bowl Green lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 16 – May 17
Siberian Dwarf lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 22
Summer Bibb lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 22 – May 27
Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 27
Tango lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Apr 29 – May 7
Tatsoi lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Apr 22 – May 12
Tendergreen lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 7 – May 17
Tom Thumb lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – Jun 6
Tuscany Black lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 11
Vates Collard lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 27 – Jun 11
Vates Kale lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 17 – May 22
Verona Red lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Jun 21 – Jun 28
White Boston lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 7 – May 17
Winner Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 17
Winter Density lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 21 – May 27
Winter Giant lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 May 12 – May 17
Witloof White lettuce Direct Sow Mar 28 Jul 12 – Aug 4

Harvest in March

Nothing to harvest in March for Zone 5B.
Next window: April — 5 varieties, including Astro Arugula, Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan), Mesclun Mix.

Key Tasks for March in Zone 5B

  1. 1 Start 20 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. 2 Direct sow seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination is complete.
  3. 3 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 5B planting calendar
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