My Planting Calendar

What to plant in February in zone 6

USDA zone 6 has winter lows of -10 to 0°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 15 and first fall frost around Oct 15, roughly 185 frost-free days. February is the "seed-starting season" there.

29 crops have a sowing or planting window this month - and 5 of those windows close during February.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 6 (last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 15). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

Seed-starting seasonSow or plant: 29Start indoors: 29Harvesting: 0

Zone 6: planting activity through the year

5
29
65
90
58
11
24
34
8
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 15 – Oct 15
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 29 have one in February; the busiest month is April (90).

Last chance in February

Celeriac (start seeds indoors, by Feb 4) · Celery (start seeds indoors, by Feb 11) · Leek (start seeds indoors, by Feb 11) · Onion (start seeds indoors, by Feb 11) · Rosemary (start seeds indoors, by Feb 11)

Start seeds indoors in February (29)

Indoor sowings for transplants later. Six to eight weeks under lights is typical for tomatoes and peppers; onions and leeks need longer.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
CeleriacStart seeds indoorsJan 21 – Feb 4Last chance - ends Feb 4
CeleryStart seeds indoorsJan 28 – Feb 11Last chance - ends Feb 11
LeekStart seeds indoorsJan 28 – Feb 11Last chance - ends Feb 11
OnionStart seeds indoorsJan 28 – Feb 11Last chance - ends Feb 11
RosemaryStart seeds indoorsJan 28 – Feb 11Last chance - ends Feb 11
EggplantStart seeds indoorsFeb 4 – Feb 18Feb 4 – Feb 18
ParsleyStart seeds indoorsFeb 4 – Feb 18Feb 4 – Feb 18
ShallotStart seeds indoorsFeb 4 – Feb 18Feb 4 – Feb 18
Bell PepperStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
Chili PepperStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
GingerStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
Green Onion / ScallionStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
MintStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
OreganoStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
SageStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
TarragonStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
ThymeStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
TurmericStart seeds indoorsFeb 11 – Feb 25Feb 11 – Feb 25
Ground CherryStart seeds indoorsFeb 18 – Mar 4Opens Feb 18
Lemon BalmStart seeds indoorsFeb 18 – Mar 4Opens Feb 18
Shiso (Perilla)Start seeds indoorsFeb 18 – Mar 4Opens Feb 18
Sweet MarjoramStart seeds indoorsFeb 18 – Mar 4Opens Feb 18
TomatilloStart seeds indoorsFeb 18 – Mar 4Opens Feb 18
TomatoStart seeds indoorsFeb 18 – Mar 4Opens Feb 18
BroccoliStart seeds indoorsFeb 25 – Mar 11Opens Feb 25
Brussels SproutsStart seeds indoorsFeb 25 – Mar 11Opens Feb 25
CabbageStart seeds indoorsFeb 25 – Mar 11Opens Feb 25
CauliflowerStart seeds indoorsFeb 25 – Mar 11Opens Feb 25
KaleStart seeds indoorsFeb 25 – Mar 11Opens Feb 25

Seed-starting season: February garden jobs in zone 6

  1. Start 29 crops indoors this month, including celeriac, celery, leek, onion. Use a sterile mix and good light - see starting seeds indoors.
  2. 8 weeks until the average last frost (April 15). The seed-starting calculator works out each crop's exact sowing date from it.
  3. Keep seedlings from stretching: lights 2-3 inches above the leaves for 14-16 hours a day, and a fan or a daily brush of the hand across the tops.
  4. Prepare beds as soon as the soil crumbles instead of smearing when squeezed - working wet soil ruins its structure for the season.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 6 in February?

29 crops have a window in February: celeriac, celery, leek, onion, rosemary, eggplant, parsley, shallot, bell pepper, chili pepper and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

When are the last and first frost in zone 6?

The typical last spring frost is around Apr 15 and the first fall frost around Oct 15. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.

What should I start indoors in zone 6 in February?

Celeriac (Jan 21 – Feb 4), Celery (Jan 28 – Feb 11), Leek (Jan 28 – Feb 11), Onion (Jan 28 – Feb 11), Rosemary (Jan 28 – Feb 11), Eggplant (Feb 4 – Feb 18), Parsley (Feb 4 – Feb 18), Shallot (Feb 4 – Feb 18), Bell Pepper (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Chili Pepper (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Ginger (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Green Onion / Scallion (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Mint (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Oregano (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Sage (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Tarragon (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Thyme (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Turmeric (Feb 11 – Feb 25), Ground Cherry (Feb 18 – Mar 4), Lemon Balm (Feb 18 – Mar 4), Shiso (Perilla) (Feb 18 – Mar 4), Sweet Marjoram (Feb 18 – Mar 4), Tomatillo (Feb 18 – Mar 4), Tomato (Feb 18 – Mar 4), Broccoli (Feb 25 – Mar 11), Brussels Sprouts (Feb 25 – Mar 11), Cabbage (Feb 25 – Mar 11), Cauliflower (Feb 25 – Mar 11), Kale (Feb 25 – Mar 11).

February in states with land in zone 6

AlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyMaineMarylandMassachusetts

Zone 6 in other months

JanuaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberZone 6 overview →

What to plant in February in other zones

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10All states →

Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.