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Zone 6a planting calendar and frost dates

In USDA hardiness zone 6a, the average last spring frost is Apr 30 and the average first fall frost is Oct 15, leaving about 168 frost-free days. To be 90% sure of no later frost, wait until about May 14 to plant tender crops. These are medians of 112 NOAA weather stations in zone 6a; their last-frost dates range from Apr 11 to Jun 11.

What to plant each month in zone 6a

February

Bell peppers (start indoors), Onions (start indoors), Lavender (start indoors), Begonias (start indoors), Coleus (start indoors), Foxglove (start indoors), Coneflowers (start indoors), Bee balm (start indoors)

March

Tomatoes (start indoors), Peas (plant), Lettuce (start indoors), Spinach (plant), Kale (start indoors), Kale (plant), Broccoli (start indoors), Cauliflower (start indoors), Cabbage (start indoors), Brussels sprouts (start indoors), Radishes (plant), Basil (start indoors), Sage (start indoors), Dahlias (start indoors), Caladiums (start indoors), Marigolds (start indoors)

April

Potatoes (plant), Watermelon (start indoors), Lettuce (plant), Broccoli (plant), Cauliflower (plant), Cabbage (plant), Brussels sprouts (plant), Carrots (plant), Beets (plant), Onions (plant), Asparagus (plant), Cilantro (plant), Dill (plant), Sage (plant), Borage (plant), Catmint (plant), Strawberries (plant), Blueberries (plant), Blackberries (plant), Gladiolus (plant), Marigolds (plant), Cosmos (plant), Mums (plant), Hydrangeas (plant), Rose bushes (plant), Foxglove (plant), Coneflowers (plant), Bee balm (plant), Hostas (plant), Sedum (plant), Wildflower seeds (plant)

May

Tomatoes (plant), Bell peppers (plant), Pumpkins (plant), Cucumbers (plant), Okra (plant), Zucchini (plant), Watermelon (plant), Green beans (plant), Sweet corn (plant), Sweet potatoes (plant), Basil (plant), Lavender (plant), Dahlias (plant), Caladiums (plant), Begonias (plant), Coleus (plant), Zinnias (plant), Sunflowers (plant), Lantana (plant), Jasmine (plant), Grass seed (plant)

June

Brussels sprouts (plant for fall)

July

Green beans (plant for fall), Peas (plant for fall), Kale (plant for fall), Broccoli (plant for fall), Cauliflower (plant for fall), Cabbage (plant for fall), Carrots (plant for fall)

August

Lettuce (plant for fall), Spinach (plant for fall), Beets (plant for fall), Cilantro (plant for fall), Sage (plant for fall), Lavender (plant for fall), Catmint (plant for fall), Blueberries (plant for fall), Mums (plant for fall), Hydrangeas (plant for fall), Rose bushes (plant for fall), Iris (plant), Foxglove (plant for fall), Coneflowers (plant for fall), Bee balm (plant for fall), Sedum (plant for fall), Grass seed (plant for fall)

September

Radishes (plant for fall), Strawberries (plant for fall), Daffodils (plant), Peonies (plant), Hostas (plant for fall)

October

Garlic (plant), Tulips (plant), Wildflower seeds (plant for fall)

Zone 6a planting dates for every plant

PlantStart indoorsPlant outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 5 – Mar 19May 7 – May 21–
Bell peppersFeb 19 – Mar 5May 14 – May 28–
Potatoes–Apr 2 – Apr 23–
Pumpkins–May 7 – May 21–
Cucumbers–May 7 – May 21–
Okra–May 14 – Jun 4–
Zucchini–May 7 – May 21–
WatermelonApr 2 – Apr 9May 14 – May 28–
Green beans–May 7 – May 21Jul 30 – Aug 13
Sweet corn–May 7 – May 21–
Sweet potatoes–May 21 – Jun 4–
Peas–Mar 19 – Apr 9Jul 23 – Aug 13
LettuceMar 19 – Apr 2Apr 2 – Apr 23Aug 20 – Sep 10
Spinach–Mar 19 – Apr 9Aug 20 – Sep 10
KaleMar 5 – Mar 19Mar 26 – Apr 16Jul 23 – Aug 13
BroccoliMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 9 – Apr 23Jul 16 – Aug 6
CauliflowerMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 16 – Apr 30Jul 16 – Aug 6
CabbageMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 2 – Apr 16Jul 9 – Jul 30
Brussels sproutsMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 9 – Apr 23Jun 25 – Jul 16
Carrots–Apr 9 – Apr 30Jul 23 – Aug 6
Beets–Apr 2 – Apr 23Aug 6 – Aug 20
Radishes–Mar 19 – Apr 16Sep 3 – Sep 17
OnionsFeb 19 – Mar 5Apr 2 – Apr 16–
Garlic––Oct 15 – Nov 12
Asparagus–Apr 2 – Apr 23–
BasilMar 5 – Mar 19May 7 – May 21–
Cilantro–Apr 16 – May 7Aug 20 – Sep 17
Dill–Apr 30 – May 14–
SageMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 30 – May 21Aug 20 – Sep 3
LavenderFeb 5 – Feb 19May 7 – May 28Aug 6 – Aug 20
Borage–Apr 30 – May 14–
Catmint–Apr 30 – May 21Aug 20 – Sep 3
Strawberries–Apr 2 – Apr 23Sep 3 – Sep 17
Blueberries–Apr 2 – Apr 23Aug 20 – Sep 17
Blackberries–Apr 2 – Apr 23–
Tulips––Oct 1 – Nov 12
Daffodils––Sep 17 – Oct 29
Gladiolus–Apr 30 – May 14–
DahliasMar 19 – Apr 2May 7 – May 21–
CaladiumsMar 19 – Apr 2May 21 – Jun 4–
BegoniasFeb 5 – Mar 5May 7 – May 21–
ColeusFeb 19 – Mar 5May 14 – May 28–
MarigoldsMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 30 – May 14–
Zinnias–May 7 – May 21–
Sunflowers–May 7 – May 21–
Cosmos–Apr 30 – May 14–
Mums–Apr 30 – May 21Aug 20 – Sep 3
Lantana–May 14 – May 28–
Hydrangeas–Apr 30 – May 14Aug 20 – Sep 3
Rose bushes–Apr 2 – Apr 30Aug 20 – Sep 3
Peonies––Sep 3 – Oct 15
Iris––Aug 6 – Sep 3
FoxgloveFeb 19 – Mar 5Apr 16 – May 7Aug 20 – Sep 3
ConeflowersFeb 19 – Mar 5Apr 30 – May 21Aug 20 – Sep 3
Bee balmFeb 19 – Mar 5Apr 30 – May 21Aug 20 – Sep 3
Hostas–Apr 16 – May 14Sep 3 – Sep 17
Sedum–Apr 30 – May 21Aug 20 – Sep 3
Jasmine–May 14 – May 28–
Wildflower seeds–Apr 2 – Apr 23Oct 15 – Nov 26
Grass seed–May 28 – Jun 25Aug 13 – Sep 3

Places in zone 6a

Weather stations used for this zone include Adrian Lenawee, MI; Albany, NY; Ann Arbor, MI; Ashtabula, OH; Battle Creek Kellogg, MI; Binghamton, NY; Burlington, IA; Burlington Carson, CO; Burns, OR; Champaign Willard, IL; Chicago Midway, IL; Chicago Ohare, IL; Chicago Palwaukee, IL; Chicago Waukegan, IL; Chillicothe 22 Ene, MO; Chillicothe Agri-Sci, MO; Clearfield Lawrence, PA; Coalville, UT; Colorado Springs, CO; Copper Harbor, MI; Dansville, NY; Decatur, IL; Defiance, OH; Delta, UT and 88 more.

Zone 6a frost dates by state: Alaska · Arizona · Colorado · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Hampshire · New Mexico · New York · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Utah · West Virginia · Wisconsin

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