USDA hardiness zone band
Zones 5-6
Covers Upper Midwest, Northeast, Mountain West. Guides for Zones 5-6, each linked to its sources. More guides for this zone are added over time.
A hardiness zone is about winter cold, not frost timing on its own — gardens across this whole band still have different average last-frost dates. Use the planting calculator with your own frost date rather than treating every Zones 5-6 guide below as one fixed calendar.
Planting windows
When to Plant Cucumbers in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to start cucumber seeds indoors or direct-sow outside in USDA zones 5-6, based on soil warmth rather than a fixed calendar date, with a named source.
When to Plant Garlic in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to plant garlic cloves after the first fall frost in USDA zones 5-6, and when to expect a late-June to late-July harvest, with a source.
When to Plant Peppers in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to start pepper seeds indoors and when to transplant outside in USDA zones 5-6, based on your own last frost date, with a source.
When to Plant Potatoes in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to plant seed potatoes in USDA zones 5-6, what soil-warmth signs to look for, and when to expect new potatoes, with a source.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to start tomato seeds indoors and when to transplant outside in USDA zones 5-6, based on your own last frost date, with a source.