Planting Zone 6a
Min winter temp -10 to -5°F · last frost ~April · first frost ~October
In Zone 6a, the average last spring frost is around April and the first fall frost around October, about a 176-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 6a planting schedule and calendar
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Peppers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cucumbers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Lettuce | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Zucchini | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Carrots | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Peas | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Broccoli | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Spinach | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Kale | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Onions | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Garlic | ||||||||||||
| Potatoes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Squash (winter) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Corn | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Radishes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beets | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Eggplant | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Basil | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cilantro | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Parsley | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Pumpkins | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Sunflowers | ● | ● |
What to plant this fall in Zone 6a
Fall planting in Zone 6a is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around October 13, so a crop needs its days to maturity, plus about two weeks for the slower growth of shortening days, to fit before then. Hardy crops get some of that back because they keep going past a light frost.
| Crop | Sow by | Fall harvest | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radishes | Sep 22 | Oct 20 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Aug 29 | Oct 13 | ~45 |
| Kale | Aug 28 | Oct 27 | ~60 |
| Beets | Aug 26 | Oct 20 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Aug 24 | Oct 13 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Aug 18 | Oct 27 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Aug 16 | Oct 20 | ~65 |
| Peas | Aug 14 | Oct 13 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Jul 22 | Sep 15 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Jul 22 | Sep 15 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Jul 17 | Sep 15 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Jul 11 | Oct 9 | ~90 |
| Tomatoes | Jul 2 | Sep 15 | ~75 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 6a winter: garlic (Oct 13 to Nov 10) , onions (Sep 1 to Sep 22) , spinach (Sep 1 to Sep 15) , parsley (Sep 1 to Sep 15) .
More on the method: the fall planting calendar by zone, when to plant garlic and how to stretch your first frost date.
When to plant popular crops in Zone 6a
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantCities in Zone 6a, with their own local frost dates: Chicago, IL frost dates , Denver, CO frost dates .
Seasonal reading for Zone 6a
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 6a.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 6a.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 6a season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 6a.
- Houseplants for low light
Something to grow while the Zone 6a garden is frozen.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 6a.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 6a last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 6a, and what that changes.
- Companion planting chart
Which crops to plant together once you know your dates.
Nearby zones
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Zone 6a?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 6a is around April; the first fall frost is around October.
What can I grow in Zone 6a?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 6a; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 6a frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 6a?
radishes (sow by Sep 22), cilantro (sow by Aug 29), kale (sow by Aug 28), beets (sow by Aug 26), lettuce (sow by Aug 24), carrots (sow by Aug 18). Each date is counted back from the Zone 6a average first frost around October 13.
How long is the growing season in Zone 6a?
About 176 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.