Zone 6a Frost Dates and Planting Schedule

In USDA zone 6a, the typical last frost is April 27 and the typical first frost is October 17: the medians across its 4,154 ZIP codes, from NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the station nearest each one.

By HarvestMath Editors October 1, 2026 Share:

Typical first fall frost

Oct 17

range Oct 3 to Oct 26

Typical last spring frost

Apr 27

range Apr 14 to May 12

Median and 10th to 90th percentile across 4,154 ZIP codes in zone 6a, from each ZIP code's nearest NOAA station (1991–2020 normals). The spread is 28 days in spring.

A hardiness zone is a winter-cold rating: the average coldest night of the year. It doesn't predict when frost ends in spring. Two ZIP codes in zone 6a can be weeks apart on their last frost, so the dates here are a typical range, not your date.

Your exact frost dates

Find your dates by

US ZIP code

Enter a ZIP code or pick your hardiness zone to see your frost dates.

Zone 6a Planting Schedule

Typical for zone 6a, counted from the zone's typical Apr 27 last frost and Oct 17 first frost with the Season Planner's crop timing. Enter your ZIP code for your exact dates.

Typical for zone 6a

Mar 2–Mar 16 Start tomatoes indoors

Tomato seed needs 6 to 8 weeks under lights before it goes out.
Mar 16–Mar 30 Sow peas outdoors

Peas take cold soil and light frost in stride.
Mar 30–Apr 13 Sow leaf lettuce outdoors

Sow again every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply.
May 4–May 11 Transplant tomatoes and peppers

Once nights stay above 50°F.
May 4–May 11 Sow bush beans

Beans rot in cold soil: wait for 60°F at 4 inches deep.
Jul 25–Aug 8 Sow a fall crop

Kale, carrots, spinach or lettuce, 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Oct 24–Oct 31 Plant garlic

Cloves go in 1 to 2 weeks after the first killing frost, for next summer.

Zone 6a Cities and Their Frost Dates

Same zone, different dates: each city's own station.

Denver, CO:last frost May 4, first Oct 8
Milwaukee, WI:last frost Apr 19, first Oct 29
Omaha, NE:last frost Apr 18, first Oct 21
Lincoln, NE:last frost Apr 24, first Oct 13
Albany, NY:last frost Apr 27, first Oct 15
Grand Rapids, MI:last frost Apr 29, first Oct 20
Ann Arbor, MI:last frost May 8, first Oct 4
Lansing, MI:last frost May 1, first Oct 13

Zone 6a Frost FAQ

When is the last frost in zone 6a?

Typically around April 27, but it ranges from April 14 to May 12 across the zone's ZIP codes (10th to 90th percentile). Enter your ZIP code for your own station's date.

When is the first frost in zone 6a?

Typically around October 17, ranging October 3 to October 26 across zone 6a.

When do you plant tomatoes in zone 6a?

Typically May 4 to May 11, a week or two after the zone's typical last frost. Your own last frost can be weeks either side of that.

Neighboring Zones

Zone 6a covers ZIP codes in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia.

A garden in a zone 6a climate — An illustration of a zone 6a garden.

Free book · 23 pages, PDF

The Spacing & Planting Cheat Sheet

When to start, when to plant, how far apart.