Zone 6b planting calendar
Warm-temperate zone with room for spring and fall successions.
Coldest temps-5 to 0°F
Avg. last spring frostApr 15
Avg. first fall frostOct 25
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 6b →
The growing season in Zone 6b
Zone 6b has a coldest-winter range of -5 to 0°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 193 days — from the last spring frost around Apr 15 to the first fall frost around Oct 25. That is a long season — you can grow nearly anything, run several succession sowings, and often fit two or even three plantings of quick 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 15, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 193-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 6b
Every crop below is timed to Zone 6b'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 Feb 25–Mar 11 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Feb 11–Feb 25 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 6 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 13 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Mar 25–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 16–Aug 30 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–May 13 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Mar 25–Apr 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–May 6 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 20 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 2–Aug 30 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Mar 25 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Mar 25–Apr 22 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 20 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Feb 25–Mar 11 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Jul 19–Aug 9 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Feb 25–Mar 11 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Sep 27–Oct 11 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 16–Aug 30 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 27 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–May 6 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 6 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–May 6 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–May 6 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 27 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 13 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 13 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 2–Aug 30 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 20 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 25–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 20 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 16–Aug 30 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 13 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 13 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 13 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 6 Direct sow outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 6 Direct sow outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Feb 25–Mar 11 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 11–Mar 25 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 11–Mar 25 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Mar 11–Mar 25 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 25 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 25 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–May 6 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Mar 25 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 13 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 8 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 13 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |