Zone 6b Frost Dates & Planting Calendar

USDA Zone 6b has average coldest-winter lows of −5°F to 0°F. Across the 615 cities we track in this zone, the typical last spring frost is around April 22 and the typical first fall frost around October 23.

Winter low −5°F to 0°F

Typical last frost April 22

Typical first frost October 23

Cities 615

Hardiness zones describe winter cold, not frost timing (why that matters). For dates specific to your town, look up your ZIP code.

Zone 6b Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Apr 29 – May 6	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	May 6 – May 13	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Mar 25 – Apr 1	Apr 29 – May 6	Apr 29 – May 6	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Apr 1 – Apr 8	Apr 29 – May 13	Apr 29 – May 6	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Mar 25 – Apr 1	Apr 29 – May 13	Apr 29 – May 6	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Mar 25 – Apr 1	—	May 6 – May 13	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Mar 25 – Apr 1	—	May 6 – May 13	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	Aug 28 – Sep 11	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	Aug 28 – Sep 11	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	Aug 14 – Aug 28	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	Sep 11 – Sep 18	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	Apr 1 – Apr 8	Aug 21 – Aug 28	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	Apr 8 – Apr 15	Aug 14 – Aug 21	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	Aug 14 – Aug 28	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	Jul 31 – Aug 14	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	Aug 14 – Aug 28	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Sep 11 – Sep 25	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	Aug 14 – Aug 28	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Sep 25 – Oct 9	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	May 6 – May 20	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	Apr 29 – May 6	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	Aug 28 – Sep 11	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Apr 8 – Apr 15	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Mar 25 – Apr 1	Apr 29 – May 13	Apr 29 – May 6	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	Apr 29 – May 6	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Mar 25 – Apr 1	Apr 29 – May 13	Apr 29 – May 6	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Cities in Zone 6b

City	Last frost	First frost
Chicago, IL	Apr 10	Nov 5
Columbus, OH	Apr 20	Oct 24
Indianapolis, IN	Apr 20	Oct 21
Detroit, MI	Apr 21	Oct 31
Kansas City, MO	Apr 4	Nov 2
Cincinnati, OH	Apr 16	Oct 25
Meads, KY	Apr 22	Oct 23
Toledo, OH	Apr 20	Oct 27
Buffalo, NY	Apr 24	Oct 26
Akron, OH	Apr 24	Oct 28
Overland Park, KS	Apr 10	Oct 29
Springfield, MO	Apr 4	Oct 27
Springfield, MA	May 3	Oct 8
Kansas City, KS	Apr 4	Nov 2
Dayton, OH	Apr 18	Oct 25
Olathe, KS	Apr 10	Oct 29
Warren, MI	Apr 21	Oct 31
Sterling Heights, MI	Apr 30	Oct 24
Topeka, KS	Apr 16	Oct 22
Amherst, NY	Apr 24	Oct 26
Hartford, CT	Apr 17	Oct 26
Evansville, IN	Mar 29	Nov 10
Independence, MO	Apr 10	Oct 27
Lowell, MA	Apr 30	Oct 10
Waterbury, CT	Apr 26	Oct 16
Clinton Township, MI	Apr 30	Oct 24
Dorchester, MA	Apr 19	Oct 23
Brockton, MA	Apr 22	Oct 19
Dearborn, MI	Apr 27	Oct 25
Lee's Summit, MO	Apr 13	Oct 26
Livonia, MI	May 1	Oct 15
Lawrence, KS	Apr 12	Oct 28
Quincy, MA	Apr 25	Oct 22
Newton, MA	Apr 19	Oct 23
Bend, OR	Jun 6	Sep 20
O'Fallon, MO	Apr 9	Oct 26
Danbury, CT	Apr 20	Oct 20
Bloomington, IN	Apr 15	Oct 26
Troy, MI	Apr 26	Oct 22
Westland, MI	Apr 20	Oct 27

States with Zone 6b cities

Ohio (134)
Massachusetts (112)
Michigan (57)
Connecticut (55)
Pennsylvania (47)
Missouri (39)
New York (34)
Kansas (27)
Indiana (16)
Kentucky (14)
Utah (13)
New Jersey (12)
West Virginia (11)
Idaho (10)
Rhode Island (10)
Illinois (8)
Oregon (7)
Washington (2)
New Mexico (2)
California (2)
Colorado (1)
Oklahoma (1)
Nevada (1)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the temperature range for Zone 6b?

Zone 6b is defined by an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of −5°F to 0°F (USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map).

When is the last frost in Zone 6b?

Typically around April 22, though it varies by location. Hardiness zones measure winter cold, not frost timing, so two places in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart — check your city's page for local dates.

When is the first frost in Zone 6b?

Typically around October 23 across the cities we track in Zone 6b.

Neighboring zones: Zone 6a · Zone 7a · All zones