Zone 6 Planting Guide: When to Plant Vegetables in USDA Zone 6
USDA hardiness zone 6 (6a and 6b) covers places where the coldest winter night averages -10 to 0°F. This guide times seed-starting, transplanting, and fall planting for a typical zone 6 last frost of Apr 26 and first fall frost of Oct 19. A long enough season for nearly everything, including a fall cool-season crop.
About these dates: Timings are counted from your average last spring frost date, which is only an average — a frost can still occur after it. Dates vary within a state by elevation, distance from water, and microclimate. Look up the frost date for your ZIP code (your state Cooperative Extension office or NOAA climate normals are good sources) and adjust for the current season’s weather and soil temperature.
Zone 6 frost dates
| Earliest 10% of ZIPs | Typical (median) | Latest 10% of ZIPs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring frost (32°F) | Apr 13 | Apr 26 | May 10 |
| First fall frost (32°F) | Oct 5 | Oct 19 | Oct 28 |
Frost dates: medians of the nearest NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals station (32°F, 50% probability) for each ZIP code in zone 6 (9,140 ZIPs). Zones: USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP data, PRISM Climate Group (Oregon State University); this is a summary, not the official USDA map. Your local dates can differ by weeks — use the ZIP planner or frost-date tables.
What to plant each month in zone 6
| Month | What to plant (typical zone 6 timing) |
|---|---|
| February | Start indoors: broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, kale, peppers |
| March | Start indoors: basil, marigolds, tomatoes, zinnias Direct sow: lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach Plant sets/transplants: onions Plant seed potatoes: potatoes Transplant: broccoli, cabbage, kale |
| April | Direct sow / transplant: marigolds, zinnias |
| May | Transplant: basil, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes Direct sow: beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn |
| July | Fall transplant: broccoli, cabbage |
| August | Fall sow: kale, lettuce, spinach |
| September | Fall sow: radishes Fall plant bulbs: daffodils |
| October | Fall plant bulbs: tulips Fall plant cloves: garlic |
Zone 6 planting calendar (23 crops)
Dates assume the typical zone 6 frost dates above; shift them with your own. Timing relative to frost:
| Plant | Task | Typical window |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Start indoors | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Basil | Transplant | May 3 – May 10 |
| Beans | Direct sow | May 3 – May 10 |
| Broccoli | Start indoors | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Broccoli | Transplant | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Broccoli | Fall transplant | Jul 27 – Aug 10 |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Cabbage | Transplant | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Cabbage | Fall transplant | Jul 27 – Aug 10 |
| Cucumbers | Direct sow | May 3 – May 10 |
| Daffodils | Fall plant bulbs | Sep 21 – Nov 2 |
| Eggplant | Start indoors | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Eggplant | Transplant | May 10 – May 17 |
| Garlic | Fall plant cloves | Oct 19 – Nov 16 |
| Kale | Start indoors | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Kale | Transplant | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Kale | Fall sow | Aug 10 – Aug 24 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Lettuce | Fall sow | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Marigolds | Start indoors | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Marigolds | Direct sow / transplant | Apr 26 – May 3 |
| Onions | Plant sets/transplants | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Peas | Direct sow | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Peppers | Start indoors | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Peppers | Transplant | May 10 – May 17 |
| Potatoes | Plant seed potatoes | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Pumpkins | Direct sow | May 3 – May 17 |
| Radishes | Direct sow | Mar 22 – Apr 12 |
| Radishes | Fall sow | Sep 7 – Sep 21 |
| Spinach | Direct sow | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Spinach | Fall sow | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Squash | Direct sow | May 3 – May 10 |
| Sweet corn | Direct sow | May 3 – May 10 |
| Tomatoes | Start indoors | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant | May 3 – May 10 |
| Tulips | Fall plant bulbs | Oct 5 – Nov 16 |
| Zinnias | Start indoors | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Zinnias | Direct sow / transplant | Apr 26 – May 10 |
Cool-season vs warm-season crops in zone 6
- Cool-season (peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale, onions, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, garlic): tolerate light frost; plant in early spring and again late summer–fall.
- Warm-season (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil, marigolds, zinnias): frost-tender; plant after the last frost once soil warms.
States with large zone 6 areas
Ohio · Indiana · Kansas · Michigan · Connecticut · Massachusetts · Missouri · Pennsylvania · Illinois · West Virginia · Colorado · Utah · Rhode Island · Idaho · New Hampshire · New York · Nebraska · New Mexico · Maine · Kentucky · Oregon · Washington · Nevada · New Jersey
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in zone 6?
Across ZIP codes in USDA zone 6, the median last spring frost (32°F) at the nearest NOAA station is about Apr 26, with most falling between Apr 13 and May 10. Hardiness zones measure winter lows, not frost dates, so look up your ZIP for a local date.
What are zone 6 winter temperatures?
USDA zone 6 means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -10 to 0°F (1991–2020), split into 6a (colder half) and 6b.
When should I plant tomatoes in zone 6?
Transplant tomatoes about 1–2 weeks after your last frost (typical zone 6: around May 3), once nights stay above 50°F. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Which states are in zone 6?
Large parts of Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania fall in zone 6 on the 2023 USDA map. Check your ZIP code, since zones vary within states.
Other zone guides
Zone 3 · Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 7 · Zone 8 · Zone 9 · Zone 10 · Zone 11 · Zone map · Frost dates