Zone 6a planting calendar

What to plant in August: zone 6a

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 6a: last spring frost around April 30, first fall frost around October 10. Zones are set by winter lows, not frost dates, so two gardens in the same zone can be weeks apart. Measure your ZIP below for dates from your area's own 30-year record.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Typical last frost: April 30
Typical first frost: October 10
Winter lows: -10 to -5 °F
Zone 6a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Direct sow for fall

  • Parsleyaround Aug 1

    Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Cilantro2 sowings: Aug 5 and Aug 26

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Bush beanaround Aug 6

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Peaaround Aug 11

    Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Carrotaround Aug 12

    Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy: light freezes sweeten it.

  • Beetaround Aug 16

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Dillaround Aug 16

    Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Spinacharound Aug 21

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.

  • Lettucearound Aug 21

    Counts back 50 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Radisharound Aug 24

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.

Transplant for fall

  • Broccoliaround Aug 17

    Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 10-10.

  • Kalearound Aug 27

    Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 10-10.

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