Planting Zone 6b
Min winter temp -5 to 0°F · last frost ~April · first frost ~October
In Zone 6b, the average last spring frost is around April and the first fall frost around October, about a 186-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 6b 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 6b
Fall planting in Zone 6b is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around October 18, 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 27 | Oct 25 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Sep 3 | Oct 18 | ~45 |
| Kale | Sep 2 | Nov 1 | ~60 |
| Beets | Aug 31 | Oct 25 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Aug 29 | Oct 18 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Aug 23 | Nov 1 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Aug 21 | Oct 25 | ~65 |
| Peas | Aug 19 | Oct 18 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Jul 27 | Sep 20 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Jul 27 | Sep 20 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Jul 22 | Sep 20 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Jul 16 | Oct 14 | ~90 |
| Tomatoes | Jul 7 | Sep 20 | ~75 |
| Peppers | Jul 2 | Sep 20 | ~80 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 6b winter: garlic (Oct 18 to Nov 15) , onions (Sep 6 to Sep 27) , spinach (Sep 6 to Sep 20) , parsley (Sep 6 to Sep 20) .
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 6b
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantSeasonal reading for Zone 6b
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 6b.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 6b.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 6b season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 6b.
- Houseplants for low light
Something to grow while the Zone 6b garden is frozen.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 6b.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 6b last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 6b, 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 6b?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 6b is around April; the first fall frost is around October.
What can I grow in Zone 6b?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 6b; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 6b frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 6b?
radishes (sow by Sep 27), cilantro (sow by Sep 3), kale (sow by Sep 2), beets (sow by Aug 31), lettuce (sow by Aug 29), carrots (sow by Aug 23). Each date is counted back from the Zone 6b average first frost around October 18.
How long is the growing season in Zone 6b?
About 186 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.