Skip to content

What Can Grow in Zone 2b?

Growing Zone Zone 2b
Frost-Free Days 122
Last Frost mid-May
First Frost mid-September

Cold climate with a growing season of about 4 months. Kale, carrots, beets, and radishes thrive. Tomatoes need a head start indoors.

Find your exact zone:

📅 Planting Calendar for Zone 2b

When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your frost dates.

Plant Start Indoors Transplant Out Direct Sow Harvest
🥬 Arugula — — May 15 Jun 5 – Jun 24
❤️ Beets — — May 15 Jul 4 – Jul 24
🥦 Broccoli Apr 3 May 15 — Jul 14 – Aug 3
🥬 Cabbage Apr 3 May 15 — Jul 24 – Sep 12
🥬 Kale Apr 17 May 15 — Jul 9 – Jul 29
🥬 Lettuce — — May 15 Jun 14 – Jul 14
🌱 Microgreens — — May 15 May 22 – Jun 5
🧅 Onion Mar 20 May 15 — Aug 13 – Sep 12
🥕 Parsnip — — May 15 Aug 23 – Sep 22
🫛 Peas — — May 15 Jul 9 – Jul 24
🔴 Radish — — May 15 Jun 6 – Jun 14
🥔 Rutabaga — — May 15 Aug 13 – Aug 28
🫛 Snap Peas — — May 15 Jul 14 – Jul 24
🥬 Spinach — — May 15 Jun 24 – Jul 4
🥬 Swiss Chard — — May 15 Jul 4 – Jul 14
🫛 Turnip — — May 15 Jun 29 – Jul 14
💙 Borage — — May 15 Jul 4 – Jul 14
🌿 Dill — — May 15 Jun 24 – Jul 14
🌻 Sunflower — — May 15 Jul 14 – Aug 3

Dates are averages based on Zone 2b frost dates (last frost: mid-May, first frost: mid-September). Adjust for your specific microclimate.

🥦 Vegetables

🌿 Herbs

⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)

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

🗺️ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Zone 2 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

Cold climate with a growing season of about 4 months. Kale, carrots, beets, and radishes thrive. Tomatoes need a head start indoors. Vegetables like Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage all grow well here.
The growing season is short — roughly 122 days. Focus on fast-maturing varieties and start seeds indoors as early as possible.
Top vegetables for Zone 2b: Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage. For beginners, Arugula and Beets are the easiest to start with.
Borage, Dill grow easily in Zone 2b.