Zone 6b Planting Schedule
Action Plan: October in Zone 6b
Expert Note
In October, keep soil evenly moist but avoid waterlogged beds as nights cool. Watch for late-season pests like aphids and mites, and protect peppers from early cold snaps with row cover when lows near freezing.
The Harvest
Harvest hot peppers like Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and Bhut Jolokia Chocolate before hard freezes; bring them indoors to finish ripening if needed. Also pull storage-friendly Siberian Garlic when tops start to yellow, and cure it in a dry, airy spot.
Planting Schedule
Add crops from the list below to build your planting schedule.| Crop | Indoor Start | Transplant / Sow | Harvest Window | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynara scolymus 'Italian' | Jan 17th | Apr 25th | Sep 22nd – Oct 16th | |
| Artichoke | Jan 31st | Apr 11th | Sep 8th – Oct 16th | |
| Giant Red Celery | Jan 31st | Jun 6th | Sep 4th – Oct 16th | |
| Green Sleeves | Jan 31st | Jun 6th | Sep 4th – Oct 16th | |
| Gros Vert de Laon | Jan 31st | Apr 18th | Jul 17th – Oct 16th | |
| Kojak | Jan 31st | Apr 11th | Aug 9th – Oct 16th | |
| Verina | Jan 31st | Mar 14th | Jun 22nd – Oct 16th | |
| African Sunset | Feb 14th | Apr 25th | Jul 24th – Oct 16th | |
| Alabaster | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 16th – Oct 16th | |
| Albin | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 16th – Oct 16th | |
| Amsterdam | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Jul 12th – Oct 16th | |
| Amsterdam Cutting | Feb 14th | Apr 25th | Jul 4th – Oct 16th | |
| Amsterdam Seasoning | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Jun 27th – Oct 16th | |
| Apollo | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 16th – Oct 16th | |
| Artichaut de Nice | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 16th – Oct 16th | |
| Artichoke de Marseille | Feb 14th | Jun 6th | Sep 4th – Oct 16th | |
| Atlas Angel | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Jun 27th – Oct 16th | |
| Baby Artichoke | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Jul 12th – Oct 16th | |
| Balder | Feb 14th | Apr 25th | Aug 8th – Oct 16th | |
| Bandit | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 16th – Oct 16th | |
| Beijing White | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Jul 7th – Oct 16th | |
| Bing Select | Feb 14th | Apr 11th | Jun 20th – Oct 16th | |
| Blue Solaise | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 6th – Oct 16th | |
| Bordeaux | Feb 14th | Apr 25th | Jul 9th – Oct 16th | |
| Bullseye Salmon | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Jun 27th – Oct 16th | |
| Cabernet | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 6th – Oct 16th | |
| Carmen F1 | Feb 14th | Apr 18th | Aug 1st – Oct 16th | |
| Cascade Blue | Feb 14th | Apr 25th | Jul 4th – Oct 16th | |
| Catanese | Feb 14th | Jun 20th | Oct 18th – Oct 16th | |
| Celebration | Feb 14th | Apr 11th | Jun 30th – Oct 16th |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the frost dates for Zone Zone 6b?
In Zone Zone 6b, the average last spring frost is Apr 25th and the average first fall frost is Oct 16th.
When is the best time to start seeds indoors in Zone Zone 6b?
The best time to start most seeds indoors is 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date of Apr 25th.
How long is the growing season in Zone Zone 6b?
Zone Zone 6b has a growing season of approximately 174 days.