Zone 6b Planting Calendar
In zone 6b, the median last spring frost falls around Apr 10 and the first fall frost around Oct 27, giving roughly 199 frost-free days. Average annual minimum temperature is -5°F to 0°F. Every date in the table below is calculated from those two frost dates.
Comparable areas: Cincinnati, OH, Kansas City, MO, Hartford, CT. Ohio Valley, lower Midwest and interior southern New England. Interpolated between the verified Chicago 6a and St. Louis 7a anchors. Urban cores run a week or more later into fall than surrounding countryside.
What to plant and when in zone 6b
Sorted by when you start each crop. Dates are calculated from a median last frost of Apr 10 and a first frost of Oct 27.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall sowing | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celery | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Aug 2 – Sep 1 |
| Leek | Jan 16 – Feb 13 | Mar 13 – Mar 26 | — | Jun 11 – Aug 10 |
| Onion | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | — | Jun 28 – Jul 18 |
| Rosemary | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jul 13 – Aug 2 |
| Kale | Jan 23 – Feb 13 | Mar 13 – Mar 26 | Aug 4 – Aug 17 | May 2 – Jun 3 |
| Broccoli | Jan 30 – Feb 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Jul 28 – Aug 10 | May 9 – Jun 18 |
| Cabbage | Jan 30 – Feb 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Jul 28 – Aug 10 | May 19 – Jun 28 |
| Pepper (sweet/bell) | Jan 30 – Feb 27 | May 1 – May 14 | — | Jul 10 – Jul 25 |
| Chives | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | Jun 29 – Jul 9 |
| Common Thyme | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | Jun 9 – Jul 9 |
| Greek Oregano | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | Jun 29 – Jul 9 |
| Cauliflower | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | Jul 28 – Aug 10 | May 16 – Jun 15 |
| Eggplant | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jun 18 – Jul 13 |
| Sweet Potato | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 1 – May 14 | — | Jul 30 – Aug 29 |
| Basil | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 30 | — | Jun 23 – Jul 23 |
| Garden Sage | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | Jun 19 – Jun 29 |
| Parsley | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | Aug 18 – Aug 31 | Jun 19 – Jun 29 |
| Spearmint | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | Jun 9 – Jul 9 |
| Calendula / Pot Marigold | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | Sep 1 – Sep 14 | May 16 – May 26 |
| French Marigold | Feb 13 – Mar 13 | Apr 17 – Apr 30 | — | Jun 1 – Jun 16 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | Sep 1 – Sep 14 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Tomato | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 17 – Apr 30 | — | Jun 11 – Jul 16 |
| Bok Choy | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | Sep 1 – Sep 14 | Apr 26 – May 26 |
| Collard Greens | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | Aug 4 – Aug 17 | May 26 – Jun 15 |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Aug 25 – Sep 7 | May 16 – May 26 |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Aug 18 – Aug 31 | May 16 – Jun 5 |
| Spinach | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Sep 8 – Sep 21 | May 17 – May 28 |
| Swiss Chard | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | Sep 29 – Oct 12 | May 6 – May 21 |
| Pea | — | Mar 6 – Mar 19 | Aug 25 – Sep 7 | Apr 30 – May 20 |
| Rhubarb | — | Mar 6 – Mar 19 | — | Mar 5 |
| Watermelon | Mar 6 – Mar 27 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jul 3 – Jul 28 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 13 – Mar 26 | Sep 15 – Sep 28 | Apr 12 – May 2 |
| Asparagus | — | Mar 13 – Mar 26 | — | Mar 12 |
| Cucumber | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jun 13 – Jul 3 |
| Pumpkin | Mar 13 – Mar 20 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jul 18 – Aug 22 |
| Turnip | — | Mar 13 – Mar 26 | Aug 25 – Sep 7 | Apr 22 – May 27 |
| Nasturtium | Mar 13 – Mar 20 | Apr 17 – Apr 30 | — | Jun 11 – Jun 21 |
| Beet | — | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Aug 18 – Aug 31 | May 9 – May 29 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Aug 11 – Aug 24 | May 19 – Jun 8 |
| Potato | — | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | — | May 29 – Jul 18 |
| Radish | — | Mar 20 – Apr 2 | Sep 15 – Sep 28 | Apr 10 – May 4 |
| Sunflower | Mar 20 – Mar 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 30 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 26 |
| Parsnip | — | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | — | Jul 15 – Aug 4 |
| Winter Squash (Butternut) | Mar 27 – Apr 3 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jul 13 – Aug 2 |
| Cantaloupe (Muskmelon) | Mar 27 – Apr 3 | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jul 1 – Jul 18 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 27 – Apr 9 | — | Apr 24 – Apr 26 |
| Dill | — | Apr 3 – Apr 16 | Aug 18 – Aug 31 | May 13 – May 28 |
| Bush bean | — | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | Aug 18 – Aug 31 | May 30 – Jun 9 |
| Pole bean | — | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | Jun 7 – Jun 12 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | Jun 9 – Jul 19 |
| Borage | — | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | — | May 30 – Jun 9 |
| Cilantro / Coriander | — | Apr 10 – Apr 23 | Sep 1 – Sep 14 | May 25 – Jun 19 |
| Summer squash / zucchini | — | Apr 17 – Apr 30 | — | May 22 – Jun 11 |
| Okra | — | Apr 24 – May 7 | — | Jun 23 – Jul 3 |
| Brussels Sprouts | — | Jun 19 – Jul 2 | Jul 21 – Aug 3 | Sep 12 – Oct 7 |
| Garlic | — | — | Oct 27 – Nov 9 | — |
Print this page for a calendar you can pin up in the shed.
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One zone is not one climate. USDA hardiness zones are drawn from average winter minimum temperature and nothing else, so they do not determine frost dates. Two gardens in zone 6b can differ by two or three weeks depending on elevation, distance from water, and local topography. Treat this page as a starting schedule and adjust it to what your own garden has actually done. How these dates were derived →
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