What is the last frost date for Zone 6a?

The average last spring frost date for Zone 6a is approximately Apr 15. Always check your specific ZIP code for local variations.

What vegetables grow best in Zone 6a?

Top vegetables for Zone 6a include: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Squash.

How long is the growing season in Zone 6a?

Zone 6a has an average growing season of approximately 183 days, from last frost around Apr 15 to first fall frost around Oct 15.

Zone 6a Gardening Guide

Everything you need to grow a thriving garden in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a — Central US / Southern New England. Frost dates, planting calendar, and the best plants for your climate.

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Last Spring Frost

Apr 15

Average date

First Fall Frost

Oct 15

Average date

Growing Season

183 days

Frost-free window

Min Winter Temp

-10 to -5°F

USDA 2023

What Is Zone 6a?

USDA Hardiness Zone 6a covers Central US / Southern New England, including cities like Kansas City, MO · St. Louis, MO · Providence, RI. The zone experiences minimum winter temperatures between -10 to -5°F, which determines which perennials and woody plants survive winter outdoors.

With a growing season of 183 days, Zone 6a gardeners need to be strategic about timing to maximize harvests. The key is aligning your planting schedule with the frost window.

Pro tip: Your exact ZIP code matters. Zone 6a spans a range of microclimates — elevation, urban heat islands, and proximity to water can shift your personal frost dates by 1–3 weeks. Cloche uses your ZIP to give you precise, location-specific recommendations.

Best Vegetables for Zone 6a

These vegetables thrive in Zone 6a's climate and growing season length:

Vegetable	Start Seeds Indoors	Transplant Outside	Harvest Window
Tomatoes	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct
Peppers	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct
Eggplant	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct
Cucumbers	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct
Squash	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct
Beans	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct
Sweet Corn	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct
Pumpkin	Feb 1–20	Apr 15–30	June–Oct

Top Plants This Season

🍅Tomatoes 🫑Peppers 🍆Eggplant 🥒Cucumbers 🎃Squash 🫘Beans 🌿Sweet Corn 🌿Pumpkin

Flowers for Zone 6a

These flowering plants are proven performers in Zone 6a:

Zinnias
Coneflower
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia
Salvia
Lavender

Herbs for Zone 6a

Grow these herbs successfully in Zone 6a:

Basil
Cilantro
Dill
Sage
Thyme
Rosemary
Mint
Lavender

Planting Calendar for Zone 6a

Activity	When
Start seeds indoors	Feb 1–20
Transplant warm-season crops	Apr 15–30
Direct sow warm-season crops	Apr 15–30
Harvest window	June–Oct
Last frost (average)	Apr 15
First fall frost (average)	Oct 15

Browse All Zones

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Your Zone 6a Garden, Personalized

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