Best habit
Keep a short list of replacement crops ready before spring crops finish.
Zone 6 planting guide
Zone 6 raised bed planting guide
Zone 6 gardeners usually get a strong spring, a warm summer crop window, and a useful fall season. The win is sequencing crops so the bed is rarely empty.
Early crops
Use spring for peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, beets, onions, kale, and cilantro as conditions allow.
Main-season crops
After frost risk passes, shift space to tomatoes, peppers, basil, beans, cucumbers, and zucchini. Plan spacing before plants are mature.
Fall reset
Sow quick cool-season crops again in late summer for fall harvests, especially greens and roots.
Spacing risk
Tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers are the easiest crops to overcrowd in small beds.
Local adjustment
Zone is useful, but frost dates and microclimate still set the real schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What can I plant in Zone 6 raised beds?
Common choices include lettuce, spinach, peas, radishes, carrots, beets, kale, tomatoes, peppers, basil, beans, cucumbers, and zucchini, timed around local frost dates.
Sources and local checks
Use these pages as planning starting points, then confirm exact dates with local frost-date and extension guidance.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Next step
Use the calendar for the current month, then calculate plant counts for your bed size. Open the calculator with these defaults, or check the monthly sowing calendar before you plant.