Zone 6a planting calendar
Long, mild season suiting almost all kitchen-garden crops.
Coldest temps-10 to -5°F
Avg. last spring frostApr 21
Avg. first fall frostOct 17
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 6a →
The growing season in Zone 6a
Zone 6a has a coldest-winter range of -10 to -5°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 179 days — from the last spring frost around Apr 21 to the first fall frost around Oct 17. That is a moderate season that comfortably suits most vegetables, with time for a spring and a fall planting of the cool-season crops.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after Apr 21, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 179-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 6a
Every crop below is timed to Zone 6a's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Mar 3–Mar 17 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Feb 17–Mar 3 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 12 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 5 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Mar 31–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 8–Aug 22 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Mar 31–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 12 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 12 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Jul 25–Aug 22 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Mar 31 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Mar 31–Apr 28 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 12 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Mar 3–Mar 17 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Jul 11–Aug 1 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Mar 3–Mar 17 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Sep 19–Oct 3 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 8–Aug 22 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 19 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 12 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 12 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 12 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 12 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 19 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 5 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 5 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Jul 25–Aug 22 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 12 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 31–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 12 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 8–Aug 22 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 5 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 12 Direct sow outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 12 Direct sow outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Mar 3–Mar 17 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 17–Mar 31 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 17–Mar 31 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Mar 17–Mar 31 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 31 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 31 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 12 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Mar 31 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 5 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 14 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 5 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |