When to plant pumpkins in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, start pumpkins indoors April 21 to May 5 and plant out May 19 to June 2.
The zone 6a schedule for pumpkins
- Start seeds indoors
- April 21 to May 5
- Plant out
- May 19 to June 2
- Sow outdoors
- May 19 to June 2
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- May 19
- First harvest, roughly
- July 28 to August 31
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for pumpkins.
Frost risk in zone 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Pumpkins are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.
Your dates for pumpkins
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant pumpkins where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Pumpkins in zone 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Apr 9 to 23 | May 7 to 21 |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Apr 11 to 25 | May 9 to 23 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 |
How to grow pumpkinsAll zonesPumpkins in zone 5bPumpkins in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
Sources
- How to Grow Pumpkins in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- All about Pumpkins · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Pumpkins & Winter Squash (HGIC 1318) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Pumpkin and Squash Harvest and Storage · University of Vermont Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720) · Colorado State University Extension
- Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, and Melons (Fact Sheet 7.609) · Colorado State University Extension
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021), Table 1 · University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension