USDA hardiness zone
Zone 6 — -10 to 0°F
Southern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, parts of mid-Atlantic · 180-day growing season
What grows in Zone 6
Zone 6 suits the following plants based on temperature tolerance and growing-season length:
- Tomatoes (all types)
- Peppers, eggplant
- Squash, melons, cucumbers
- Beans, peas
- Sweet corn
- Apples, pears, peaches, plums
- Cherries, blueberries
- Asparagus, rhubarb
- Garlic (fall-planted)
- Strawberries
- Herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
- Cool-season greens (spring + fall)
Climate notes for Zone 6
Two-season growing — cool-season crops in spring/fall, warm-season in summer. Heirloom tomato varieties work well here.
Frost dates and timing
| Average last spring frost | mid- to late April |
|---|---|
| Average first fall frost | mid- to late October |
| Growing season length | ~180 days |
| Temperature range (F) | -10 to 0°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -23 to -18°C |
These are zone-wide averages. Local microclimates (south-facing slopes, urban heat, lakeside warmth) can shift dates by 1-2 weeks within the same zone.
Source and methodology
Temperature ranges from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023). Frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online national averages within each zone. Plant recommendations curated by the Growli editorial team from US extension service references.
What to plant in Zone 6
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates for zone 6:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 6
- When to plant peppers in zone 6
- When to plant basil in zone 6
- When to plant garlic in zone 6
- When to plant lettuce in zone 6
- When to plant bush beans in zone 6
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 6
- When to plant summer squash in zone 6
- When to plant peas in zone 6
- When to plant carrots in zone 6