Tansy in Zone 6a & 6b
Tanacetum vulgare
When to plant tansy in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Tansy doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 11–Apr 18 |
| Estimated harvest | Apr 10 '28–Apr 17 '28 (First real harvest the season after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-5 ft.
Tansy is an old cottage-garden and strewing herb that modern toxicology has largely retired from use.
How tansy fits zone 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. Tansy takes about 1 growing season to reach first worthwhile harvest, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Tansy is hardy in zones 3-8, so in zone 6b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 1.5 ft of spread at maturity.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Tansy.
Where to buy tansy seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing tansy" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 6b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Tansy in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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