Tomatoes planting calendar for USDA Zone 6a

Western NC mountains, southern PA, central OH, northern MO. Average last spring frost May 1, first fall frost October 1 — a 153-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: good

Tomatoes is frost-tender, so timing the outdoor transplant to the last frost matters more here than in warmer zones. Row cover buys 2 weeks of head start.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

March 13 – March 27

Transplant outdoors

May 8 – May 29

Expected first harvest

July 29 – August 26

Fall planting window

June 18 – July 9

Fall harvest window

September 8 – October 6

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing: 24″
Row spacing: 48″
Seed depth: 0.25″
Soil temperature: 70–85°F
Frost tolerance: tender
Days to harvest: 75 days

Grower notes for Zone 6a

Set transplants deep — bury two-thirds of the stem to encourage adventitious roots. Stake or cage before fruit set.

Plant near: basil, carrots, onions

Keep away from: brassicas, corn, fennel

Other nightshades for Zone 6a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

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