Plant Tomatoes in Zone 6a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 6a
Zone 6a averages 176 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 20 to a first fall frost around October 13. Tomatoes needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 43 percent of that window. Tomatoes is a tender crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.
Because tomatoes needs a head start, sow seed indoors around Mar 2, about 7 weeks ahead of the Zone 6a last frost. Transplants go out around May 4. Starting earlier than that in Zone 6a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.
Planting tomatoes for a fall harvest in Zone 6a
Yes. Sow tomatoes by July 2 in Zone 6a. That is 103 days before the average first frost, which covers the 75 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, plus a two week margin because frost kills tomatoes outright.
A second tomato crop only works where the first fall frost is late enough to finish it, which in practice means zone 9 and warmer.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 6a average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall tomatoes in Zone 6a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar 2 | May 4 | Jul 18 |
| Fall | by Jul 2 | Jul 2 | Sep 15 |
Tomatoes in nearby zones
Further reading on tomatoes
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor start dates for tomatoes, counted back from your last frost.
- Hardening off seedlings: a schedule
A day by day plan for moving tomatoes seedlings outdoors.
- Best grow lights for seed starting
What light seedlings actually need, and which fixtures deliver it.
Other crops in Zone 6a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start tomatoes in Zone 6a?
Start tomatoes seeds indoors around Mar 2 (Zone 6a).
Can I direct sow tomatoes in Zone 6a?
Tomatoes is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 6a rather than direct sown.
Can I plant tomatoes in the fall in Zone 6a?
Yes. Sow tomatoes by July 2 in Zone 6a. That is 103 days before the average first frost, which covers the 75 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, plus a two week margin because frost kills tomatoes outright.
Will tomatoes survive frost in Zone 6a?
No. Tomatoes is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 6a planting has to finish before the average first frost.