Tomatoes planting calendar for USDA Zone 6b

Boone NC, northern VA, central KY, southern IN. Average last spring frost April 24, first fall frost October 8 — a 167-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 6 – March 20

Transplant outdoors

May 1 – May 22

Expected first harvest

July 22 – August 19

Fall planting window

June 25 – July 16

Fall harvest window

September 15 – October 13

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 6b

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 6b

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.

Join the pilot Browse resources