Zone 6a planting calendar
In zone 6a, the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 22 and the first fall frost around Oct 15. Here is what to do each month.
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Open the free planner →February
- Feb 25:
Start bell pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 25:
Start hot pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 25:
Start eggplant seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 25:
Start parsley seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 25:
Start chives seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 25:
Start thyme seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 25:
Start oregano seeds indoors (or buy plants later)
March
- Mar 4:
Start tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 4:
Start cherry tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 11:
Sow spinach seeds in the bed - Mar 11:
Start kale seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 11:
Start broccoli seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 11:
Start cabbage seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 11:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 11:
Sow pea seeds in the bed - Mar 11:
Start basil seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Mar 18:
Sow radish seeds in the bed - Mar 25:
Sow lettuce seeds in the bed - Mar 25:
Sow arugula seeds in the bed - Mar 25: Plant kale in the bed
- Mar 25:
Plant onion sets in the bed - Mar 25:
Sow green onion seeds in the bed - Mar 25:
Plant strawberries in the bed - Mar 25:
Plant blueberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Mar 25:
Plant raspberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Mar 25:
Plant blackberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Mar 25:
Plant rhubarb in the bed (first harvest next year)
April
- Apr 1: Plant broccoli in the bed
- Apr 1: Plant cabbage in the bed
- Apr 1:
Sow carrot seeds in the bed - Apr 1:
Sow beet seeds in the bed - Apr 8:
Sow swiss chard seeds in the bed - Apr 8: Plant cauliflower in the bed
- Apr 8:
Plant seed potatoes in the bed - Apr 8: Plant parsley in the bed
- Apr 8:
Sow cilantro seeds in the bed - Apr 8: Plant chives in the bed
- Apr 22:
Sow dill seeds in the bed - Apr 22: Plant thyme in the bed
- Apr 22: Plant oregano in the bed
- Apr 29:
Sow bush bean seeds in the bed - Apr 29:
Sow pole bean seeds in the bed
May
- May 6: Plant tomatoes in the bed
- May 6: Plant cherry tomatoes in the bed
- May 6: Plant bell peppers in the bed
- May 6: Plant hot peppers in the bed
- May 6:
Sow cucumber seeds in the bed - May 6:
Sow zucchini seeds in the bed - May 6:
Sow winter squash seeds in the bed - May 6:
Sow sweet corn seeds in the bed - May 6: Plant basil in the bed
- May 6:
Sow watermelon seeds in the bed - May 6:
Sow cantaloupe seeds in the bed - May 13: Plant eggplants in the bed
- May 13:
Plant sweet potatoes in the bed - May 13:
Sow okra seeds in the bed
June
- Jun 11: Start cabbage seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 16: Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 16: Start cauliflower seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jun 26: Start kale seeds indoors for a fall crop
July
- Jul 23: Plant cabbage again for a fall crop
- Jul 23: Sow carrot seeds again for a fall crop
- Jul 28: Plant broccoli again for a fall crop
- Jul 28: Plant cauliflower again for a fall crop
August
- Aug 2: Sow green onion seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 2: Sow pea seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 7: Plant kale again for a fall crop
- Aug 7: Sow swiss chard seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 7: Sow beet seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 12: Sow lettuce seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 12: Sow cilantro seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 17: Sow spinach seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 22: Sow arugula seeds again for a fall crop
September
- Sep 3: Sow radish seeds again for a fall crop
- Sep 17:
Plant garlic cloves
Not usually grown outdoors in zone 6a
Rosemary, Fig (dwarf), Lemon (dwarf Meyer). Some of these can be grown in pots and moved indoors for winter.
Dates are estimates based on average frost dates for zone 6a. Your local dates may differ by a week or two.