| Plant | Zone 6a | Zone 6b |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 10 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 18 | Plant outside: Apr 22 to Jun 3 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 11 |
| Pepper | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 18 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 11 |
| Eggplant | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 18 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 11 |
| Cucumber | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 22 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 15 |
| Zucchini | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 22 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 15 |
| Winter squash | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 22 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 15 |
| Pumpkin | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 |
| Watermelon | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 15 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 Start seeds indoors: around Apr 8 |
| Okra | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 |
| Sweet potato | Plant outside: May 13 to Jun 24 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 17 |
| Green beans | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 10 | Plant outside: Apr 22 to Jun 3 |
| Sweet corn | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 10 | Plant outside: Apr 22 to Jun 3 |
| Lettuce | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 15 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 4 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 8 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 25 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Spinach | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Kale | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 4 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 28 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Broccoli | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 4 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 28 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Cabbage | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 4 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 28 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Carrot | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 15 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 8 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Beet | Plant outside: Apr 1 to Apr 15 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 25 to Apr 8 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Radish | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 Fall crop: Aug 21 to Sep 18 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 Fall crop: Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Peas | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 |
| Onion | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 7 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Potato | Plant outside: Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Plant outside: Mar 11 to Mar 25 |
| Garlic | Plant cloves: Sep 18 to Oct 30 | Plant cloves: Sep 24 to Nov 5 |
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.