🗺️
Checking the zone…
Zone 3b — The Pioneer's Promise
short, cold growing season · Frost-free ~100-130 days · Min temp -35°F to -30°F
The land where perseverance first paid dividends. Here, gardeners cultivate lilacs, honeysuckle, and peonies that survived the wagon trains west. The growing season extends to 100 days - a luxury compared to northern territories. Your garden represents the first taste of agricultural security on the journey toward manifest destiny.
Zone 3b · short, cold growing season
❄️ Frost Dates — Zone 3b
Average Last Spring Frost
May 22
Plant warm-weather crops after this date. Check 10-day forecasts before setting out tender plants.
Average First Fall Frost
September 8
Count back from this date to know how long your growing window is.
Growing Season
short, cold
Frost-Free Period
~100-130 days
Min Temperature
-35°F to -30°F
📍 Where is Zone 3b?
Central Minnesota, parts of Wisconsin, Maine, Montana
🌱 Soil & Growing Notes
Clay-heavy loam common. Short growing window rewards fast-maturing varieties. Add compost each fall to improve structure.
📅 Zone 3b Month-by-Month Planting Calendar
Approximate timing based on average last frost May 22 and first fall frost September 8. Always confirm with a 10-day forecast before transplanting tender crops.
JanRest period — plan & prepare
Feb
🪴 Start Indoors: Peppers, Eggplant, Onions
Mar
🪴 Start Indoors: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Cabbage, Broccoli
🌱 Direct Sow: Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes, Peas, Carrots
Apr
🌱 Direct Sow: Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes, Peas, Carrots
🌿 Transplant: Cabbage, Broccoli, Lettuce
Soil warming — harden off transplants. Direct sow cold-tolerant crops.
May
🌱 Direct Sow: Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Corn
🌿 Transplant: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Cabbage, Broccoli, Lettuce
🌽 Harvest: Spring Radishes, Lettuce, Spinach
Last frost around this month. Safe to transplant warm-season crops outdoors.
Jun
🪴 Start Indoors: Broccoli (fall), Kale (fall)
🌱 Direct Sow: Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Corn
🌿 Transplant: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant
🌽 Harvest: Lettuce, Spinach, Peas, Garlic (if planted last fall)
Jul
🪴 Start Indoors: Broccoli (fall), Kale (fall)
🌱 Direct Sow: Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Corn, Lettuce (fall), Spinach (fall), Radishes (fall)
🌽 Harvest: Lettuce, Spinach, Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Peppers, Kale, Carrots, Broccoli
Aug
🌱 Direct Sow: Lettuce (fall), Spinach (fall), Radishes (fall), Garlic
🌽 Harvest: Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Peppers, Kale, Carrots, Broccoli
Begin fall harvest. Protect tomatoes and peppers on cold nights with row cover.
Sep
🌽 Harvest: Kale, Carrots, Broccoli
First fall frost likely. Harvest remaining warm-season crops before a hard freeze.
OctRest period — plan & prepare
NovRest period — plan & prepare
DecRest period — plan & prepare
What Grows Well in Zone 3b?
Zone 3b has a short, cold growing season with roughly ~100-130 days of frost-free weather — last spring frost around May 22, first fall frost around September 8. That's enough time for 52+ popular garden plants, from fast-growing leafy greens to longer-season fruiting crops. Below is our curated list of plants that thrive in your zone.
🥕 Best Vegetables for Zone 3b
🌱
Asparagus
730 days · $19.99
🥕
Beets
50-70 days · $2.49
🫑
Bell Peppers
60-90 days · $3.49
🥦
Broccoli
60-90 days · $2.99
🥬
Brussels Sprouts
90-120 days · $2.99
🎃
Butternut Squash
90-110 days · $3.49
🥬
Cabbage
70-100 days · $2.49
🥕
Carrots
75 days · $3.99
🥦
Cauliflower
55-100 days · $2.99
🍅
Cherry Tomatoes
60-80 days · $3.49
🧄
Garlic
240 days · $12.99
🫘
Green Bean
50-60 days · $3.49
🌱
Green Beans
50 days · $4.99
🌶️
Jalapeños
65-80 days · $3.49
🥬
Kale
55-75 days · $2.49
🥬
Lettuce
45 days · $3.49
🧅
Onion
100 days · $4.99
🟢
Peas
60 days · $4.49
🥔
Potato
90 days · $8.99
🎃
Pumpkins
90-120 days · $3.49
🔴
Radish
22-30 days · $1.99
🌱
Rhubarb
365 days · $4.99
🥬
Spinach
40 days · $3.49
🥬
Swiss Chard
50-60 days · $2.49
🌱
Tomato
75 days · $5.99
🍅
Tomatoes
80-100 days · $3.99
🥒
Zucchini
50 days · $4.49
🥬
Celery
130 days · $3.49
🥬
Turnips
55 days · $2.99
🧅
Leeks
120 days · $3.99
🌿
Arugula
40 days · $3.49
🥬
Kohlrabi
55 days · $3.49
🌿
Horseradish
365 days · $8.99
🥬
Collard Greens
70 days · $3.49
🥕
Parsnips
120 days · $3.99
🌿 Best Herbs for Zone 3b
🌿
Chives
30 days
🌿
Cilantro
45-70 days
🌿
Dill
40-60 days
🌿
Mint
30 days
🌸 Companion Flowers for Zone 3b
🌼
Marigolds
60 days
🌺
Nasturtiums
55 days
🌻
Sunflowers
80 days
🌸
Borage
60 days
🌼
Chamomile
90 days
🌸
Hyssop
120 days
🌼
Tansy
120 days
🍓 Best Fruits for Zone 3b
🍎
Apple Tree
1095 days
🫐
Blueberry Bush
730 days
🍐
Pear Tree
1095 days
🍇
Raspberry
365 days
🍓
Strawberry
365 days
🍉
Watermelons
70-90 days
🐝
Get your Zone 3b planting calendar — free
Monthly growing guide, frost dates, and seed-starting reminders tailored to your zone. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
🔒 No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Ready to plan your Zone 3b garden?
Design your plot in under a minute. See exactly what to plant, what it will cost, and how much you'll harvest.
Start Planning →