When should I plant cilantro in Zone 5b?

In Zone 5b (last frost ~05/04), direct-sow cilantro around May 4 – May 18.

When to plant cilantro in Zone 5b

In Zone 5b, direct-sow around May 4 – May 18.

Your cilantro timeline — Zone 5b

Direct-sow	May 4 – May 18
Zone 5b last frost	~05/04
Zone 5b first frost	~10/08

Direct-sow in the garden after danger of frost is past. Difficult to transplant because of its taproot. ^[src]Cited: University of Illinois Extension — Herb Gardening: Cilantro

Dates computed from Zone 5b's median NOAA frost normals and the cited rule. Your town may differ by a week or two — check your exact ZIP.

What you'll need

herb seeds

Affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

📦 Ordering seeds or soil for this window? Amazon Prime's free 30-day trial includes fast free delivery, so supplies ordered now arrive while the window is still open — and returns are free if something is wrong for your zone. Start the free 30-day trial →
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on qualifying sign-ups, at no extra cost to you. Current terms are on Amazon's page.

Last verified 2026-08-28. Frost: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020. Zone: USDA 2023. Rule: University of Illinois Extension — Herb Gardening: Cilantro.

Cilantro in other zones

Zone 10aCilantro dates Zone 10bCilantro dates Zone 2aCilantro dates Zone 2bCilantro dates Zone 3bCilantro dates Zone 4aCilantro dates Zone 4bCilantro dates Zone 5aCilantro dates

← Everything to plant in Zone 5b