| Plant | Zone 6a | Zone 6b |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 10 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 25 | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 3 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 18 |
| Parsley Comes back in zone 6 | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 29 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 21 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 22 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 14 |
| Cilantro | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 29 Fall planting: Aug 28 to Sep 25 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 22 Fall planting: Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Dill | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 29 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 22 |
| Chives Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Spearmint Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Rosemary Annual in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Common thyme Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Greek oregano Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Garden sage Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Lemon balm Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| French tarragon Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Lemongrass Annual in zone 6 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 10 | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 3 |
| Bronze fennel Comes back in zone 6 | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 29 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 22 |
| German chamomile | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 29 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 22 |
| Stevia Annual in zone 6 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 10 | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 3 |
| Lovage Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Garden sorrel Comes back in zone 6 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so your own frost dates can be a week or two off the zone median. Look up your frost dates by ZIP code, or read all about zone 6a.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.