Moderate

What Can Grow in Zone 6b

Moderate temperate climate with ~165 day season. Excellent growing conditions for most vegetables and fruits common in North America.

Zone 6b has average winter lows of -5°F to 0°F (-21°C to -18°C). You can grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and many more plants. The frost-free growing season lasts about 165 days.

-5°FWinter Low
0°FWinter High
165 daysFrost-Free
April 1Last Frost
September 20First Frost
🥕 Vegetables
tomatoes peppers eggplant zucchini cucumbers sweet corn green beans broccoli
🍎 Fruits
apples pears peaches plums grapes strawberries blueberries figs
🌿 Herbs
basil parsley dill thyme oregano sage rosemary cilantro mint
🌸 Flowers
marigolds zinnias coneflowers daylilies peonies dahlias black-eyed Susans
🌳 Trees & Shrubs
red oak dogwood redbud white pine arborvitae American holly
💡 Planting Tips

Direct sow warm-season crops after April 15. Plant a second round of cool crops in late August. Add organic matter to improve drainage.

🌱
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📍 States in Zone 6b
VirginiaNorth CarolinaTennesseeMissouriKansasOklahomaNew Jersey
🔀 Neighboring Zones
6a7a

Frequently Asked Questions

USDA Zone 6b has average annual minimum temperatures of -5°F to 0°F (-21°C to -18°C). This temperature range determines which perennial plants can survive winter outdoors.

The average last frost date in Zone 6b is around April 1, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 20. This gives a frost-free growing season of approximately 165 days.

Zone 6b is well-suited for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet corn. Direct sow warm-season crops after April 15. Plant a second round of cool crops in late August. Add organic matter to improve drainage.

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