When to plant pumpkins in zone 6b
In zone 6b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 23, start pumpkins indoors April 14 to 28 and plant out May 12 to 26.
The zone 6b schedule for pumpkins
- Start seeds indoors
- April 14 to 28
- Plant out
- May 12 to 26
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 to 26
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- May 12
- First harvest, roughly
- July 21 to August 24
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for pumpkins.
Frost risk in zone 6b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 6 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 9 to October 29. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 9Safe: 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 6b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | Apr 18 | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 21 | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 17 to 31 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 8 | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 |
| Cincinnati, OH | Apr 16 | Apr 4 to 18 | May 2 to 16 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 24 | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 |
| Buffalo, NY | Apr 24 | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 20 | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 |
| Boise City, ID | Apr 24 | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 26 | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 |
| Rochester, NY | Apr 24 | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 |
How to grow pumpkinsAll zonesPumpkins in zone 6aPumpkins in zone 7aAbout zone 6b
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