Zone 6a Planting Calendar
Every listed crop, timed for zone 6a. Not sure this is your zone? Change it using the zone picker at the top of the page.
This zone has a single frost date, and the windows below are based on it.
Vegetables & Herbs
| Plant | Spacing | Window | Method | Start indoors | Direct sow / transplant | Est. harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic | 4 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Dec 6–Dec 13 | ~240 days after direct-sowing |
| Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion) | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 7–Feb 14 | May 9–May 16 | ~135 days after transplanting |
| Celery | 4 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 14–Feb 21 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~120 days after transplanting |
| Leek | 9 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 14–Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~110 days after transplanting |
| Rosemary | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 14–Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Pepper | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | ~75 days after transplanting |
| Onion | 9 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~100 days after transplanting |
| Eggplant | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | ~75 days after transplanting |
| Sweet Potato | ~4 sq ft each | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 16–May 23 | ~110 days after transplanting |
| Thyme | 4 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 2–May 9 | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Oregano | 4 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 2–May 9 | ~80 days after transplanting |
| Chives | 9 per sq ft | — | Either | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~60 days after planting |
| Parsley | 4 per sq ft | — | Either | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~75 days after planting |
| Sage | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | ~75 days after transplanting |
| Collard Greens | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~70 days after planting |
| Tomato | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 14–Mar 21 | May 9–May 16 | ~70 days after transplanting |
| Kale | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~60 days after planting |
| Pea | 8 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Mar 14–Mar 21 | ~60 days after direct-sowing |
| Broccoli | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~65 days after transplanting |
| Cabbage | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~70 days after transplanting |
| Basil | 4 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 14–Mar 21 | May 9–May 16 | ~60 days after transplanting |
| Cauliflower | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~70 days after transplanting |
| Brussels Sprouts | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~95 days after transplanting |
| Arugula | 9 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Mar 21–Mar 28 | ~40 days after direct-sowing |
| Bok Choy | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 21–Mar 28 | Apr 25–May 2 | ~50 days after planting |
| Kohlrabi | 4 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 21–Mar 28 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~55 days after planting |
| Fennel (Florence/bulbing) | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 21–Mar 28 | May 9–May 16 | ~90 days after planting |
| Lettuce | 4 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~45 days after planting |
| Spinach | 9 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Mar 28–Apr 4 | ~40 days after direct-sowing |
| Swiss Chard | 4 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~55 days after planting |
| Radish | 16 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Mar 28–Apr 4 | ~25 days after direct-sowing |
| Okra | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | ~58 days after planting |
| Cucumber | 2 per sq ft | — | Either | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 2–May 9 | ~55 days after planting |
| Zucchini | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 2–May 9 | ~50 days after planting |
| Carrot | 16 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~70 days after direct-sowing |
| Beet | 9 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
| Cantaloupe | ~4 sq ft each | — | Either | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 9–May 16 | ~80 days after planting |
| Turnip | 9 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~50 days after direct-sowing |
| Mustard Greens | 4 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~40 days after direct-sowing |
| Cilantro | 9 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~50 days after direct-sowing |
| Potato | 1 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~90 days after direct-sowing |
| Scallion (Green Onion) | 9 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~60 days after direct-sowing |
| Dill | 4 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 18–Apr 25 | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
| Winter Squash | ~4 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~100 days after direct-sowing |
| Pumpkin | ~4 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~110 days after direct-sowing |
| Bush Beans | 9 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
| Sweet Corn | 1 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~75 days after direct-sowing |
| Watermelon | ~4 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | May 9–May 16 | ~85 days after direct-sowing |
Flowers
| Plant | Spacing | Window | Method | Start indoors | Direct sow / transplant | Est. bloom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daffodil (Narcissus) | 5 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Sep–Nov | ~150 days after direct-sowing |
| Crocus | 12 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Sep–Nov | ~150 days after direct-sowing |
| Hyacinth | 5 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Sep–Nov | ~150 days after direct-sowing |
| Ornamental Allium | 5 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Sep–Nov | ~195 days after direct-sowing |
| Dutch Iris | 4 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Sep–Nov | ~210 days after direct-sowing |
| Tulip | 7 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Oct–Nov | ~180 days after direct-sowing |
| Pansy / Viola | 2 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Jan 31–Feb 7 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~65 days after transplanting |
| Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle) | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 14–Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | ~80 days after transplanting |
| Petunia | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 21–Feb 28 | May 9–May 16 | ~70 days after transplanting |
| Snapdragon | 2 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 21–Feb 28 | Apr 18–Apr 25 | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Purple Coneflower | ~4 sq ft each | — | Either | Feb 21–Feb 28 | May 9–May 16 | ~365 days after planting |
| Salvia (Scarlet Sage) | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | ~80 days after transplanting |
| Calendula | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~50 days after planting |
| Black-Eyed Susan | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | ~70 days after planting |
| Bachelor's Button (Cornflower) | 3 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~75 days after planting |
| Sweet Alyssum | 3 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 2 | ~40 days after planting |
| Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 2–May 9 | ~80 days after planting |
| Portulaca (Moss Rose) | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 2–May 9 | ~60 days after planting |
| Celosia | 2 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 2–May 9 | ~80 days after planting |
| Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) | 1 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 2–May 9 | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon) | 2 per sq ft | — | Start indoors | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 9–May 16 | ~98 days after transplanting |
| Cleome (Spider Flower) | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 9–May 16 | ~75 days after planting |
| Marigold | 4 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 14–Mar 21 | May 2–May 9 | ~50 days after planting |
| Sweet Pea | 2 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Mar 14–Mar 21 | ~85 days after direct-sowing |
| Cosmos | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 21–Mar 28 | May 2–May 9 | ~70 days after planting |
| Moonflower | 2 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 21–Mar 28 | Apr 25–May 2 | ~90 days after planting |
| Zinnia | 1 per sq ft | — | Either | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–May 9 | ~65 days after planting |
| Larkspur | 1 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Mar 28–Apr 4 | ~95 days after direct-sowing |
| Hollyhock | ~4 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~180 days after direct-sowing |
| California Poppy | 2 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~80 days after direct-sowing |
| Lupine | ~2 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~80 days after direct-sowing |
| Gladiolus | 2 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | ~90 days after direct-sowing |
| Ranunculus | 5 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 18–Apr 25 | ~105 days after direct-sowing |
| Sunflower | ~2 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | Apr 25–May 2 | ~80 days after direct-sowing |
| Nasturtium | 1 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~55 days after direct-sowing |
| Four O'Clock | ~2 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~70 days after direct-sowing |
| Verbena | ~2 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~80 days after direct-sowing |
| Desert Marigold | 1 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | May 2–May 9 | ~75 days after direct-sowing |
| Morning Glory | ~4 sq ft each | — | Direct sow | — | May 9–May 16 | ~75 days after direct-sowing |
| Dahlia | 1 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | May 9–May 16 | ~90 days after direct-sowing |
| Lantana | ~4 sq ft each | — | Buy as a start | — | May 9–May 16 | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Hyacinth Bean Vine | 1 per sq ft | — | Direct sow | — | May 16–May 23 | ~90 days after direct-sowing |