Zone 6 - Complete Planting Calendar & Checklist
Zone 6 | -10F to 0F
Excellent all-around growing season. Chicago is now Zone 6a in the 2023 map — a significant change from its old Zone 5b classification. Most of Chicagoland shifted to 6a, with lakeside neighborhoods like Lincoln Park reaching 6b. Two cool-season windows (spring and fall) make this one of the most versatile zones.
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Dates & Season
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Month-by-Month Planting Calendar
Use this calendar as your primary guide. Dates are based on the Chicago area's average last frost of May 10 and first frost of October 15.
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Month |
Start Indoors |
Plant / Sow Outdoors |
Key Tasks |
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January |
• Start onions late Jan (14 wks before Apr 15) • Order seeds |
• Nothing yet – ground frozen |
• Start onion seeds late January under lights • Order seeds — best selection available now • Plan layout and crop rotation • Check cold frames and hoop houses |
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February |
• Peppers (8-10 wks — Feb 14 for Apr 25 transplant) • Eggplant, leeks |
• Nothing — last frost approximately April 15. |
• Start peppers/eggplant under lights • Order bare-root trees and shrubs • Prune dormant fruit trees on mild days • Apply dormant oil spray before bud break |
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March |
• Tomatoes (mid-Mar — 6-8 wks) • Broccoli, cabbage (late Mar — 5-6 wks) • Celery • Celeriac |
• Peas (late Mar – soil workable) • Spinach, kale, arugula under row cover. |
• Direct sow peas when soil reaches 40F • Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees • Prepare beds — add compost, test pH • Prune fruit trees and canes |
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April |
• Cucumbers (late Apr) • Squash (late Apr) • Melons (late Apr) • Basil
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• Carrots • Beets • Lettuce • Spinach • Radishes • Kale • Swiss chard • Broccoli transplants
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• Transplant cool-season crops outdoors • Direct sow root crops and greens • Harden off warm-season transplants 7-10 days • Prep irrigation system |
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May |
• Nothing new – focus on transplanting |
• After May 10 (last frost) transplant tomatoes, peppers • Direct sow eggplant, beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, melons, basil • Plant sweet potato slips late May |
• Transplant all warm-season crops after last frost • Mulch beds 2-3 in. • Set up drip irrigation • Plant sweet potato slips and warm herbs |
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June |
• Nothing |
• Succession: beans (every 2-3 wks), cucumbers, carrots (2nd sowing), beets. |
• Fertilize heavy feeders every 2-3 weeks • Monitor for squash vine borer, flea beetles, aphids • Water 1 in./week • Cage and stake tomatoes |
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July |
• Start fall broccoli/cabbage/kale (mid-July — for Aug transplant). |
• Succession beans • Direct sow fall brassicas outdoors (late July). |
• Deep water in heat • Side-dress heavy feeders with compost • Harvest daily to keep plants productive • Pinch back basil to prevent bolting |
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August |
• Nothing |
• Aug 1-15: transplant fall brassica starts • Direct sow: spinach, arugula, kale, radishes, turnips, cilantro. |
• Transplant fall brassicas by Aug 15 — second season! • Sow fall greens • Prep garlic bed • Harvest and preserve summer crops |
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September |
• Nothing |
• Garlic (Sep 15 - Oct 15) • Cover crops (winter rye, clover). |
• Plant garlic Sep 15 - Oct 15 • Sow cover crops in cleared beds • Use row cover to extend season • Harvest winter squash |
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October |
• Nothing |
• Spring bulbs after first frost. |
• First frost Oct 15 - Nov 1 • Harvest before frost • Mulch garlic 4-6 in. • Plant spring bulbs • Compost healthy plant debris |
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November |
• Nothing |
• Garlic (early Nov if ground still workable). |
• Winterize irrigation • Mulch perennials 4-6 in. • Store tools cleaned and oiled • Review season notes |
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December |
• Nothing |
• Nothing |
• Order seeds (January for best selection) • Plan next season • Crop rotation planning |
