Plant Pumpkins in Zone 6b

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 6b

Start indoors

Mar 25

Transplant

Apr 29

Direct sow

Apr 29

Harvest (~100d)

Aug 7

Zone 6b averages 186 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 15 to a first fall frost around October 18. Pumpkins needs roughly 100 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 54 percent of that window. Pumpkins is a tender crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.

Because pumpkins needs a head start, sow seed indoors around Mar 25, about 3 weeks ahead of the Zone 6b last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 29. Starting earlier than that in Zone 6b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: pumpkins in Zone 6b

Pumpkins has no useful fall window in Zone 6b. Pumpkins are already a fall harvest, but they are planted in early summer. There is no second sowing.

Pumpkins are already a fall harvest, but they are planted in early summer. There is no second sowing.

Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 6b average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.

Spring vs fall pumpkins in Zone 6b

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 25	Apr 29	Aug 7
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

Apr 15

First fall frost

Oct 18

Growing season

186 days

Pumpkins in nearby zones

Pumpkins in Zone 6a (colder) Pumpkins in Zone 7a (warmer) Full Pumpkins grow guide Zone 6b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 6b

Tomatoes in Zone 6b Peppers in Zone 6b Cucumbers in Zone 6b Lettuce in Zone 6b Zucchini in Zone 6b Carrots in Zone 6b Beans (bush) in Zone 6b Peas in Zone 6b Broccoli in Zone 6b Spinach in Zone 6b Kale in Zone 6b Onions in Zone 6b Garlic in Zone 6b Potatoes in Zone 6b Squash (winter) in Zone 6b Corn in Zone 6b Radishes in Zone 6b Beets in Zone 6b Eggplant in Zone 6b Basil in Zone 6b Cilantro in Zone 6b Parsley in Zone 6b Sunflowers in Zone 6b

Frequently asked questions

When should I start pumpkins in Zone 6b?

Start pumpkins seeds indoors around Mar 25 (Zone 6b).

Can I direct sow pumpkins in Zone 6b?

Yes, direct sow around Apr 29.

Can I plant pumpkins in the fall in Zone 6b?