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Sprout Authority

USDA zone 6b planting guide

A typical location in zone 6b sees its last spring frost around April 23 and its first fall frost around October 22. Pick a crop for its zone 6b planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.

The zone 6b planting year

When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 6blocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall plantingHarvest
Planting calendar for Zone 6b typical: sow, transplant, and harvest windows by crop.
CropActivityWhen
TomatoStart indoorsMarch 12 – March 19
TomatoTransplantApril 23 – May 7
PepperStart indoorsFebruary 26
PepperTransplantApril 23 – May 7
EggplantStart indoorsFebruary 26
EggplantTransplantApril 23 – May 7
PotatoDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
CucumberStart indoorsMarch 26
CucumberTransplantApril 23 – May 7
CucumberDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
ZucchiniDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
ZucchiniHarvestJune 17 – July 1 (About 55 to 55 days from sowing.)
Winter SquashDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
PumpkinDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
PumpkinHarvestJuly 2 – September 4 (About 70 to 120 days from sowing.)
WatermelonTransplantApril 23 – May 7
WatermelonDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
WatermelonHarvestJuly 17 – August 5 (About 85 to 90 days from transplanting.)
CantaloupeTransplantApril 23 – May 7
CantaloupeDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
Sweet CornDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
Sweet CornHarvestJune 22 – August 5 (About 60 to 90 days from sowing.)
BroccoliStart indoorsFebruary 12 – February 26
BroccoliTransplantApril 2 – April 9
BroccoliDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
CauliflowerStart indoorsFebruary 19 – March 5
CauliflowerTransplantApril 9 – April 16
CauliflowerDirect sowApril 9 – April 16
CauliflowerFall plantingAugust 13 – September 17
CabbageStart indoorsFebruary 12 – February 26
CabbageTransplantApril 2 – April 9
CabbageDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
CabbageFall plantingAugust 13 – September 17
Brussels SproutsFall plantingJune 25
KaleStart indoorsFebruary 5 – February 19
KaleTransplantMarch 19 – March 26
KaleDirect sowMarch 19 – March 26
KaleFall plantingAugust 20 – September 24
CollardsStart indoorsFebruary 26
CollardsTransplantApril 9
CollardsDirect sowApril 2
CollardsHarvestJune 1 – June 21 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
CollardsFall plantingJuly 23
LettuceStart indoorsMarch 12 – March 19
LettuceTransplantApril 23
LettuceDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
LettuceFall plantingJuly 23 – August 27
SpinachStart indoorsMarch 12 – March 19
SpinachTransplantApril 23
SpinachDirect sowMarch 26 – April 2
SpinachFall plantingAugust 13 – September 17
Swiss ChardStart indoorsMarch 12 – March 19
Swiss ChardTransplantApril 23
Swiss ChardDirect sowMarch 26 – April 2
Swiss ChardFall plantingSeptember 24 – October 1
CarrotDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
CarrotHarvestJune 11 – July 18 (About 70 to 100 days from sowing.)
RadishDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
RadishHarvestApril 27 – May 24 (About 25 to 45 days from sowing.)
BeetDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
BeetHarvestJune 1 – June 28 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
ParsnipDirect sowApril 2 – April 9
ParsnipHarvestJuly 11 – August 7 (About 100 to 120 days from sowing.)
GarlicFall plantingOctober 29 – November 5
Green Bean (Snap Bean)Direct sowApril 16
Green Bean (Snap Bean)HarvestJune 5 – June 15 (About 50 to 60 days from sowing.)
BasilStart indoorsFebruary 26 – March 12
BasilDirect sowApril 23
ParsleyStart indoorsFebruary 26 – March 12
ParsleyDirect sowApril 23
DillDirect sowApril 23
RhubarbStart indoorsMarch 12
SunflowerDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
MarigoldStart indoorsMarch 12 – March 26
MarigoldTransplantApril 23 – May 7
MarigoldDirect sowApril 23 – May 7
PetuniaStart indoorsFebruary 12 – February 26
PetuniaTransplantApril 23 – May 7
DahliaTransplantApril 23 – May 7
English LavenderTransplantApril 23 – May 7

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.