USDA zone 6a planting guide
A typical location in zone 6a sees its last spring frost around April 29 and its first fall frost around October 16. Pick a crop for its zone 6a planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.
The zone 6a planting year
When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 6alocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.
Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall plantingHarvest
Tap a crop for exact dates
Crop
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNow
Swipe the calendar sideways · tap a crop for exact dates
| Crop | Activity | When |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Start indoors | March 18 – March 25 |
| Tomato | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Pepper | Start indoors | March 4 |
| Pepper | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Eggplant | Start indoors | March 4 |
| Eggplant | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Potato | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Cucumber | Start indoors | April 1 |
| Cucumber | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Cucumber | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Zucchini | Harvest | June 23 – July 7 (About 55 to 55 days from sowing.) |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Pumpkin | Harvest | July 8 – September 10 (About 70 to 120 days from sowing.) |
| Watermelon | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Watermelon | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Watermelon | Harvest | July 23 – August 11 (About 85 to 90 days from transplanting.) |
| Cantaloupe | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Cantaloupe | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Sweet Corn | Harvest | June 28 – August 11 (About 60 to 90 days from sowing.) |
| Broccoli | Start indoors | February 18 – March 4 |
| Broccoli | Transplant | April 8 – April 15 |
| Broccoli | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Cauliflower | Start indoors | February 25 – March 11 |
| Cauliflower | Transplant | April 15 – April 22 |
| Cauliflower | Direct sow | April 15 – April 22 |
| Cauliflower | Fall planting | August 7 – September 11 |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | February 18 – March 4 |
| Cabbage | Transplant | April 8 – April 15 |
| Cabbage | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Cabbage | Fall planting | August 7 – September 11 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Fall planting | June 19 |
| Kale | Start indoors | February 11 – February 25 |
| Kale | Transplant | March 25 – April 1 |
| Kale | Direct sow | March 25 – April 1 |
| Kale | Fall planting | August 14 – September 18 |
| Collards | Start indoors | March 4 |
| Collards | Transplant | April 15 |
| Collards | Direct sow | April 8 |
| Collards | Harvest | June 7 – June 27 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.) |
| Collards | Fall planting | July 17 |
| Lettuce | Start indoors | March 18 – March 25 |
| Lettuce | Transplant | April 29 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Lettuce | Fall planting | July 17 – August 21 |
| Spinach | Start indoors | March 18 – March 25 |
| Spinach | Transplant | April 29 |
| Spinach | Direct sow | April 1 – April 8 |
| Spinach | Fall planting | August 7 – September 11 |
| Swiss Chard | Start indoors | March 18 – March 25 |
| Swiss Chard | Transplant | April 29 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow | April 1 – April 8 |
| Swiss Chard | Fall planting | September 18 – September 25 |
| Carrot | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Carrot | Harvest | June 17 – July 24 (About 70 to 100 days from sowing.) |
| Radish | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Radish | Harvest | May 3 – May 30 (About 25 to 45 days from sowing.) |
| Beet | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Beet | Harvest | June 7 – July 4 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.) |
| Parsnip | Direct sow | April 8 – April 15 |
| Parsnip | Harvest | July 17 – August 13 (About 100 to 120 days from sowing.) |
| Garlic | Fall planting | October 23 – October 30 |
| Green Bean (Snap Bean) | Direct sow | April 22 |
| Green Bean (Snap Bean) | Harvest | June 11 – June 21 (About 50 to 60 days from sowing.) |
| Basil | Start indoors | March 4 – March 18 |
| Basil | Direct sow | April 29 |
| Parsley | Start indoors | March 4 – March 18 |
| Parsley | Direct sow | April 29 |
| Dill | Direct sow | April 29 |
| Rhubarb | Start indoors | March 18 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Marigold | Start indoors | March 18 – April 1 |
| Marigold | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Marigold | Direct sow | April 29 – May 13 |
| Petunia | Start indoors | February 18 – March 4 |
| Petunia | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| Dahlia | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
| English Lavender | Transplant | April 29 – May 13 |
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service / Oregon State University PRISM Group. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Zone dates are medians across the zone; your town varies.