USDA Zone 6 planting guide
181 frost-free daysUSDA hardiness zone 6 runs through 886 cities in 30 states we cover, with a moderate growing season of about 181 frost-free days. It spans sub-zones 6a and 6b, which differ by about 5°F in winter lows.Frost isn’t one date across a whole zone, so these are ranges — each city page uses its own nearest NOAA station.
What to plant in Zone 6
143 crops fit the seasonWith about 181 frost-free days, these crops have time to reach maturity. Open a crop for its exact indoor-start, transplant, and direct-sow dates, or check a city below for exact local timing.
Cities in Zone 6
the 48 largest of 886Zone 6 planting FAQ
What can I grow in USDA zone 6?
With about 181 frost-free days, zone 6 has time to mature 100 of the crops we track — including acorn squash, amaranth, anise, arugula, basil. See the full list above, each linked to its planting dates.
What are the frost dates for zone 6?
Across zone 6, the last spring frost falls between April 2 and June 9, and the first fall frost between September 4 and November 12 (50% chance, 32°F). Your city page gives the exact dates for your location.
How long is the growing season in zone 6?
Zone 6 averages about 181 frost-free days, ranging from 97 to 219 days between its coolest and mildest cities.
Hardiness zones from the USDA/PRISM map · frost dates from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, aggregated across this zone’s cities. How we compute this.