Moderate

What Can Grow in Zone 6a

Moderate temperate climate with 150-160 day season. Most vegetables thrive; long enough for double cropping cool-season plants.

Zone 6a has average winter lows of -10°F to -5°F (-23°C to -21°C). You can grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and many more plants. The frost-free growing season lasts about 155 days.

-10°FWinter Low
-5°FWinter High
155 daysFrost-Free
April 10Last Frost
September 15First Frost
🥕 Vegetables
tomatoes peppers eggplant zucchini cucumbers beans corn broccoli
🍎 Fruits
apples pears peaches plums cherries strawberries grapes blueberries
🌿 Herbs
basil parsley dill thyme oregano sage rosemary cilantro
🌸 Flowers
marigolds zinnias coneflowers daylilies peonies irises black-eyed Susans
🌳 Trees & Shrubs
red oak sugar maple dogwood redbud white pine arborvitae
💡 Planting Tips

Plant warm-season crops after May 1. Start a fall garden in August with broccoli and lettuce. Mulch tomatoes to prevent blight.

🌱
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📍 States in Zone 6a
VirginiaKentuckyMarylandMissouriKansasNew JerseyDelawareTennessee
🔀 Neighboring Zones
5b6b

Frequently Asked Questions

USDA Zone 6a has average annual minimum temperatures of -10°F to -5°F (-23°C to -21°C). This temperature range determines which perennial plants can survive winter outdoors.

The average last frost date in Zone 6a is around April 10, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 15. This gives a frost-free growing season of approximately 155 days.

Zone 6a is well-suited for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, beans. Plant warm-season crops after May 1. Start a fall garden in August with broccoli and lettuce. Mulch tomatoes to prevent blight.

Fruits that thrive in Zone 6a include apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, strawberries. Always check that specific cultivars are hardy to your zone before planting perennial fruit trees and shrubs.