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Zone 6B Vegetable Planting Calendar

When can you plant in Zone 6B? In Zone 6B, outdoor sowing opens with cool-season crops like Lettuce and Spinach in April, and warm-season crops like Tomato follow after the ~April 15 last frost. The season runs about 188 frost-free days, until ~October 20. The calendar below scores all 35 crops month by month.

Scored per crop from your zone's frost dates, each crop's days-to-maturity, and typical soil temperatures — honestly, including when not to plant.

A zone caveat: USDA zones reflect winter lows, not summer heat — this calendar is a zone-level guide. For timing tuned to your exact zip code, sun, and soil, get your free AI garden plan.

Last frost (50/50 date)
~April 15
First frost (50/50 date)
~October 20

A single frost date is a coin flip dressed up as a fact: these are the 50/50 dates, and about half of years see frost past them. Across 4,330 NOAA stations, frost odds typically stay near 1 in 3 for about a week past the date and don't drop below 1 in 10 until roughly 16 days past it — cautious growers wait those two-plus weeks; gamblers plant on the date and keep row cover handy. The free AI plan reads the real percentile dates for your zip and lets you pick your risk.

Good — plant now Risky — possible with care Off-season — wait

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Plus a short what-to-plant-now note for Zone 6B each month.

Zone 6B monthly planting guide — status and reason per crop and month
CropJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Cool-season crops
LettuceOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
SpinachOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
KaleOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Swiss ChardOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ArugulaOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CarrotOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
RadishOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BeetOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BroccoliOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CabbageOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CauliflowerOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PeasOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
OnionOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PotatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CilantroOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ParsleyOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Fall-planted bulbs
GarlicOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — wait
Warm-season crops
TomatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PepperOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
EggplantOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BasilOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ZucchiniOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CucumberOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BeanOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CornOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PumpkinOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
SunflowerOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Heat lovers
OkraOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Sweet PotatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
WatermelonOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CantaloupeOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Perennial herbs
RosemaryOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — wait
ThymeOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — wait
OreganoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — wait
ChivesOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — wait

When to Start Seeds Indoors vs. Direct Sow in Zone 6B

In Zone 6B, start Onion, Rosemary, Eggplant and other transplants indoors 5–10 weeks before your ~April 15 last frost, then set them out once it passes. Arugula, Bean, Beet and the other direct-sow crops go straight into the bed. Exact indoor start dates for every crop are below.

Zone 6B seed-starting guide — sowing method and indoor start date per crop
CropHow to startStart seeds indoors
OnionStart indoors, then transplantor plant sets for a shortcut~Feb 4 (10 wks before last frost)
RosemaryStart indoors, then transplantpainfully slow from seed — a nursery plant is the honest shortcut~Feb 4 (10 wks before last frost)
EggplantStart indoors, then transplant~Feb 18 (8 wks before last frost)
OreganoStart indoors, then transplant~Feb 18 (8 wks before last frost)
PepperStart indoors, then transplant~Feb 18 (8 wks before last frost)
ThymeStart indoors, then transplant~Feb 18 (8 wks before last frost)
Sweet PotatoStart indoors, then transplantgrown from slips (sprouted tubers), not seed~Mar 4 (6 wks before last frost)
TomatoStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 4 (6 wks before last frost)
BroccoliStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 11 (5 wks before last frost)
CabbageStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 11 (5 wks before last frost)
CauliflowerStart indoors, then transplant~Mar 11 (5 wks before last frost)
ChivesEither works~Feb 18 (8 wks before last frost)
ParsleyEither worksgermination takes 2–3 weeks — be patient~Feb 18 (8 wks before last frost)
KaleEither works~Mar 11 (5 wks before last frost)
BasilEither works~Mar 18 (4 wks before last frost)
LettuceEither works~Mar 18 (4 wks before last frost)
OkraEither works~Mar 18 (4 wks before last frost)
Swiss ChardEither works~Mar 18 (4 wks before last frost)
CantaloupeEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Mar 25 (3 wks before last frost)
CucumberEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Mar 25 (3 wks before last frost)
PumpkinEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Mar 25 (3 wks before last frost)
WatermelonEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Mar 25 (3 wks before last frost)
ZucchiniEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Mar 25 (3 wks before last frost)
ArugulaDirect sow in the bed
BeanDirect sow in the bedrots in cold, wet soil — wait for warmth
BeetDirect sow in the bed
CarrotDirect sow in the bedtaproot — never transplants well
CilantroDirect sow in the bedtaproot + quick to bolt — sow in place
CornDirect sow in the bed
GarlicDirect sow in the bedplant cloves in fall
PeasDirect sow in the bed
PotatoDirect sow in the bedfrom seed potatoes, not seed
RadishDirect sow in the bed
SpinachDirect sow in the bedresents transplanting — sow where it grows
SunflowerDirect sow in the bedtaproot — sow in place

Planting a fall garden? Count the indoor weeks back from your transplant date instead of the spring frost — the free AI plan's prep runway computes that per plant, including hardening-off days.

Zone 6B Planting FAQ

When is the last frost in Zone 6B?

Around April 15 — and that's the 50/50 date, not a guarantee: about half of years see frost after it. Cautious growers wait roughly two extra weeks; gamblers plant on the date and keep row cover handy.

When is the first fall frost in Zone 6B?

Around October 20 on average. Count backward from it when planning fall crops: a 70-day crop needs to be in the ground at least 10 weeks earlier, plus a buffer for shortening days.

When should I start seeds indoors in Zone 6B?

It depends on the crop's lead time: peppers ~Feb 18, tomatos ~Mar 4, broccolis ~Mar 11 — generally 5–10 weeks before the ~April 15 last frost. The seed-starting table on this page lists every crop.

How long is the growing season in Zone 6B?

Roughly 188 frost-free days, from about April 15 to October 20. Crops whose days-to-maturity fit comfortably inside that window are the reliable ones — the calendar above scores exactly that.

What vegetables can you grow in Zone 6B?

This calendar tracks 35 crops for Zone 6B — Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, and more — with honest month-by-month verdicts including when NOT to plant. For a layout tuned to your exact zip code and bed size, the free AI plan does the placing for you.

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Plus a short what-to-plant-now note for Zone 6B each month.