Zone 6b planting calendar

In zone 6b the last spring frost usually comes around April 23 and the first fall frost around October 22: about 181 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.

Typical frost dates

Last spring frost: April 23 Middle half of the zone: Apr 16 – Apr 29. Over by May 9 in 9 of 10 years.
First fall frost: October 22 Middle half of the zone: Oct 16 – Oct 26. After Oct 7 in 9 of 10 years.
Frost-free season: about 181 days
Coldest winter nights: -5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes in the zone: 5,263

Most of its weather stations are in Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Utah and 24 more.

Places in zone 6b

Zones measure winter cold, so frost dates still vary from place to place. A few weather stations across the zone:

Median frost dates at weather stations in zone 6b
Place	State	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Frost-free days
Neoga	Illinois	Apr 16	Oct 20	185
Beloit	Kansas	Apr 19	Oct 19	181
Elsberry	Missouri	Apr 20	Oct 20	181
Franklin	Indiana	Apr 20	Oct 19	180
Clarksburg	West Virginia	Apr 22	Oct 23	181
Jackson	Ohio	Apr 22	Oct 21	181
Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	Apr 23	Oct 23	181
Bountiful Bench	Utah	Apr 25	Oct 24	181

Month by month in zone 6b

Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.

January

Start indoors

Leeks Jan 29 – Feb 12
Celery Jan 29 – Feb 12

February

Start indoors

Peppers Feb 12–26
Hot peppers Feb 12–26
Eggplant Feb 12–26
Onions Feb 12–26
Parsley Feb 12–26
Tomatoes Feb 26 – Mar 12
Tomatillos Feb 26 – Mar 12
Cabbage Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli Feb 26 – Mar 12
Cauliflower Feb 26 – Mar 12
Chives Feb 26 – Mar 12

March

Start indoors

Basil Mar 12–26
Marigolds Mar 12–26

Sow outside

Peas Mar 12 – Apr 2
Spinach Mar 12 – Apr 9
Kale Mar 12 – Apr 9
Arugula Mar 19 – Apr 16
Radishes Mar 19 – Apr 30
Shallots (shallot sets) Mar 26 – Apr 9
Collard greens Mar 26 – Apr 16
Kohlrabi Mar 26 – Apr 16
Turnips Mar 26 – Apr 16
Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Mar 26 – Apr 16
Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Mar 26 – Apr 16
Mustard greens Mar 26 – Apr 23
Potatoes (seed potatoes) Mar 26 – Apr 23
Lettuce Mar 26 – May 7
Green onions Mar 26 – May 7

Plant out

Cabbage Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onions Mar 26 – Apr 9
Strawberries (strawberry plants) Mar 26 – Apr 16

April

Sow outside

Bok choy Apr 2–23
Parsnips Apr 2–30
Carrots Apr 2 – May 7
Beets Apr 2 – May 7
Cilantro Apr 9 – May 7
Swiss chard Apr 9 – May 14
Dill Apr 16 – May 14
Sunflowers Apr 23 – May 21
Zucchini Apr 30 – May 14
Zinnias Apr 30 – May 14
Nasturtiums Apr 30 – May 14
Cosmos Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers Apr 30 – May 21
Winter squash Apr 30 – May 21
Pumpkins Apr 30 – May 21
Green beans Apr 30 – May 21
Sweet corn Apr 30 – May 21

Plant out

Broccoli Apr 2–23
Leeks Apr 2–30
Chives Apr 2–30
Cauliflower Apr 9–23
Parsley Apr 9 – May 7
Thyme Apr 9 – May 7
Mint Apr 9 – May 7
Oregano Apr 16 – May 7
Sage Apr 16 – May 7
Rosemary Apr 23 – May 14
Lavender Apr 23 – May 14
Tomatoes Apr 30 – May 14
Tomatillos Apr 30 – May 14
Celery Apr 30 – May 14
Marigolds Apr 30 – May 14

Start picking

Asparagus Apr 9 – Jun 4
Radishes Apr 13 – May 30
Arugula Apr 18 – May 26
Spinach Apr 21 – May 29
Rhubarb Apr 23 – Jun 18
Mustard greens Apr 25 – Jun 7

May

Sow outside

Watermelons May 7–21
Cantaloupes May 7–21
Okra May 7–28

Plant out

Peppers May 7–21
Hot peppers May 7–21
Eggplant May 7–21
Basil May 7–21
Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) May 14 – Jun 4

Sow for fall

Brussels sprouts May 28 – Jun 18

Start picking

Chives May 2 – Oct 17
Turnips May 5 – Jun 15
Lettuce May 5 – Jul 6
Peas May 6 – Jun 11
Kale May 6 – Dec 3
Mint May 9 – Oct 24
Kohlrabi May 10 – Jun 15
Bok choy May 12 – Jun 17
Collard greens May 20 – Sep 9
Strawberries May 21 – Jun 18
Beets May 22 – Jul 6
Cilantro May 24 – Jul 16
Parsley May 24 – Nov 8
Thyme May 24 – Nov 8
Cabbage May 25 – Jul 8
Green onions May 25 – Jul 21
Dill May 26 – Jul 21
Broccoli May 27 – Jul 12
Swiss chard May 29 – Nov 5
Marigolds (in bloom) May 30 – Oct 17
Oregano May 31 – Oct 18

June

Sow for fall

Cabbage Jun 25 – Jul 23

Start picking

Carrots Jun 1 – Jul 26
Cauliflower Jun 3 – Jul 12
Basil Jun 6 – Oct 10
Potatoes Jun 9 – Aug 21
Zucchini Jun 14 – Aug 23
Nasturtiums (in bloom) Jun 14 – Oct 4
Sage Jun 15 – Nov 16
Green beans Jun 19 – Jul 31
Cucumbers Jun 19 – Aug 14
Lavender Jun 22 – Aug 17
Rosemary Jun 22 – Nov 5
Shallots Jun 24 – Jul 28
Onions Jun 24 – Aug 7
Garlic Jun 25 – Jul 16
Okra Jun 26 – Oct 2
Tomatoes Jun 29 – Oct 19
Zinnias (in bloom) Jun 29 – Oct 19
Cosmos (in bloom) Jun 29 – Oct 19

July

Sow for fall

Cauliflower Jul 2–23
Broccoli Jul 2–30
Cucumbers Jul 23 – Aug 6
Green beans Jul 23 – Aug 6
Zucchini Jul 30 – Aug 13
Peas Jul 30 – Aug 13
Carrots Jul 30 – Aug 20
Beets Jul 30 – Aug 20
Kale Jul 30 – Aug 27
Collard greens Jul 30 – Aug 27

Start picking

Leeks Jul 1 – Nov 18
Sunflowers (in bloom) Jul 2 – Aug 29
Sweet corn Jul 4 – Aug 19
Tomatillos Jul 4 – Sep 12
Peppers Jul 6 – Oct 12
Eggplant Jul 11 – Oct 3
Cantaloupes Jul 16 – Aug 20
Watermelons Jul 16 – Aug 29
Hot peppers Jul 16 – Oct 22
Winter squash Jul 19 – Oct 11
Celery Jul 24 – Sep 18
Pumpkins Jul 29 – Oct 7

August

Sow for fall

Green onions Aug 6–20
Cilantro Aug 13–27
Lettuce Aug 13 – Sep 3
Kohlrabi Aug 13 – Sep 3
Bok choy Aug 13 – Sep 3
Spinach Aug 13 – Sep 10
Turnips Aug 13 – Sep 10
Arugula Aug 20 – Sep 17
Mustard greens Aug 20 – Sep 17

Start picking

Sweet potatoes Aug 12 – Oct 7

September

Sow for fall

Radishes Sep 3–24

Start picking

Cucumbers Sep 11 – Oct 22
Green beans Sep 11 – Oct 22
Zucchini Sep 13 – Oct 22
Beets Sep 18 – Oct 23
Arugula Sep 19 – Oct 27
Mustard greens Sep 19 – Nov 1
Cabbage Sep 21 – Nov 18
Bok choy Sep 22 – Oct 28
Spinach Sep 22 – Oct 30
Lettuce Sep 22 – Nov 3
Turnips Sep 22 – Nov 9
Peas Sep 23 – Oct 22
Cauliflower Sep 23 – Nov 5
Broccoli Sep 23 – Nov 15
Collard greens Sep 23 – Dec 3
Brussels sprouts Sep 25 – Dec 3
Kohlrabi Sep 27 – Nov 2
Cilantro Sep 27 – Nov 5
Radishes Sep 28 – Oct 24
Carrots Sep 28 – Nov 9

October

Sow for fall

Garlic (garlic cloves) Oct 8 – Nov 12

Start picking

Green onions Oct 5 – Nov 16
Parsnips Oct 8 – Dec 3

November

Nothing to sow; clean and store the tools and note what grew well.

December

A month to rest the soil and plan next year.