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What Can Grow in Zone 1b?

Growing Zone Zone 1b
Frost-Free Days 47
Last Frost mid-June
First Frost early August

Severe subarctic climate. Short but productive summer for cold-hardy vegetables like kale, radishes, and lettuce.

Find your exact zone:

📅 Planting Calendar for Zone 1b

When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your average frost dates. Actual timing shifts year to year — use these as a starting point, not a fixed schedule.

Plant Start Indoors Transplant Out Direct Sow Harvest
🥬 Cabbage May 4 Jun 15 — Aug 24 – Oct 13
🌱 Microgreens — — Jun 15 Jun 22 – Jul 6

Dates are averages based on Zone 1b frost dates (last frost: mid-June, first frost: early August). Frost can come earlier or later than usual — always check your 10-day forecast before transplanting.

🥦 Vegetables

⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)

These plants are outside the ideal zone range but possible with the right approach.

🗺️ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Zone 1 is shown in this colour on the map below
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — zones 1 to 13

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — public domain. USDA Agricultural Research Service

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

USDA zones run 1a–13b (26 half-zones). Each full zone above covers both the a and b half-zones. Browse all US zones →

Browse Related Zones

Zone 1a Zone 1b Zone 2a Zone 2b Zone 3a Zone 3b Zone 4a Zone 4b Zone 5a

Frequently Asked Questions

Severe subarctic climate. Short but productive summer for cold-hardy vegetables like kale, radishes, and lettuce. Vegetables like Cabbage, Microgreens all grow well here.
The growing season is short — roughly 47 days. Focus on fast-maturing varieties and start seeds indoors as early as possible.
Top vegetables for Zone 1b: Cabbage, Microgreens.
Most common herbs grow well in Zone 1b.