SproutGuide Almanac · updated weekly

SproutGuide

What to plant this week in Zone 6a

Week of 2026-W36

Zone 6a gardeners are well into the summer growing season, with a long window until mid-October to harvest abundant produce like corn, beans, and melons. While frost dates aren't imminent yet, focus your energy on maximizing yields from your current sowings before winter approaches.

The next 7 days

Sample: Albany, NY
Today
9/6
72° 58°
Mon
9/7
78° 54°
Tue
9/8
76° 56°
Wed
9/9
79° 61° 💧49%
Thu
9/10
80° 65° 💧49%
Fri
9/11
71° 56°
Sat
9/12
73° 51°
Avg high 76°F Rain total 0.9" Humidity 70% Wind 5.1 mph
In the ground

Sow this week

No direct sowing windows open this week.

Move out

Transplant this week

Nothing is due to go out this week.

Coming ripe

Harvest soon

45 crops
  • Basil
  • Borage
  • Bush Bean
  • Cantaloupe
  • Celery
  • Cleome (Spider Flower)
  • Cosmos
  • Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
  • Cucumber
  • Dahlia
  • Edamame
  • Fennel
  • Flour Corn
  • French Marigold
  • Garden Verbena
  • Garlic
  • Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
  • Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
  • Honeydew Melon
  • Leek
  • Lima Bean
  • Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
  • Loofah (Luffa)
  • Malabar Spinach
  • Nasturtium
  • Okra
  • Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
  • Parsnip
  • Pole Bean
  • Potato
  • Pumpkin
  • Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
  • Scarlet Runner Bean
  • Shiso (Japanese Basil)
  • Summer Savory
  • Sunflower
  • Sweet Corn
  • Sweet Potato
  • Thai Basil
  • Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
  • Watermelon
  • Winter Squash
  • Yellow Summer Squash
  • Zinnia
  • Zucchini
Do this now

Seasonal tips

  • Succession sow bush beans and sweet corn every two weeks for continuous harvests through summer.
  • Pinch back the tips of basil and okra to encourage bushier growth rather than flowering too early.
  • Add a thin layer of straw or shredded leaves around heavy feeders like pumpkins and squash to retain moisture.
Keep watch

Pest & disease watch

  • Watch closely for aphids on new sunflower and cosmos growth in warm weather.
  • Inspect cucumbers, squash, and melons regularly for cucumber beetles that can spread bacterial wilt.
  • Check garlic and onions (if still growing) or emerging beans for spider mites during dry spells.
Water

Watering this week

Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, applying it deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and disease risk.

One more thing

Harvest zucchini and summer squash early in the day when they are most tender and flavorful for your table.

All year

Zone 6a planting calendar

152 crops

Average planting and harvest windows for everything that grows in zone 6a — dates shift a week or two with the season, so treat them as a starting point and check the weekly guide above for what's open right now.

Vegetables 70

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 19 – Aug 7 78d
Artichoke Feb 24 – Mar 10 — Apr 21 – May 5 — 165d
Arugula — Mar 24 – May 5 — Apr 23 – Jun 14 35d
Asparagus — — Mar 24 – Apr 21 — 2.5 yr
Banana Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 9 – Aug 7 73d
Beefsteak Tomato Mar 10 – Mar 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 17 – Aug 15 88d
Beet — Mar 24 – May 19 — May 13 – Jul 28 60d
Bell Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 4 – Aug 17 75d
Bok Choy — Apr 7 – May 5 — May 17 – Jun 24 45d
Broccoli Mar 3 – Mar 17 — Apr 7 – Apr 21 Jun 1 – Jun 30 63d
Brussels Sprouts Mar 10 – Mar 24 — Apr 21 – May 5 Jul 20 – Aug 23 100d
Bush Bean — Apr 28 – Aug 4 — Jun 17 – Oct 3 55d
Cabbage Feb 24 – Mar 10 — Apr 7 – Apr 21 Jun 16 – Jul 20 80d
Carrot — Mar 31 – May 19 — May 30 – Aug 7 70d
Cauliflower Mar 3 – Mar 17 — Apr 21 – May 5 Jun 15 – Jul 19 65d
Cayenne Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 14 – Aug 7 75d
Celery Feb 10 – Feb 24 — Apr 21 – May 5 Jul 30 – Sep 12 115d
Cherry Tomato Mar 10 – Mar 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jun 22 – Jul 21 63d
Collard Greens — Apr 7 – May 5 Apr 21 – May 5 Jun 1 – Jul 19 65d
Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea) — May 5 – Jul 5 — Jul 4 – Oct 3 75d
Cucumber — May 5 – Jul 30 May 5 – May 19 Jun 24 – Oct 3 58d
Edamame — May 5 – Jul 5 — Jul 19 – Oct 3 83d
Eggplant Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 9 – Aug 12 75d
Fava (Broad) Bean — Mar 10 – Apr 7 — May 19 – Jul 16 85d
Flour Corn — Apr 28 – Jun 5 — Jul 27 – Oct 3 105d
Garden Pea — Mar 10 – Apr 7 — May 4 – Jun 16 63d
Garlic — Sep 19 – Oct 31 — May 17 – Nov 7 255d
Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) Feb 10 – Feb 24 — May 5 – May 19 Aug 13 – Sep 16 110d
Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle) — May 5 – Jun 5 — Aug 13 – Oct 3 110d
Habanero Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Aug 3 – Aug 27 95d
Jalapeño Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 9 – Aug 12 75d
Kale Mar 10 – Mar 24 Apr 7 – May 5 Apr 7 – Apr 21 May 27 – Jul 9 58d
Kohlrabi — Mar 24 – Apr 21 — May 3 – Jun 15 48d
Leek Feb 10 – Feb 24 — Apr 21 – May 5 Jul 30 – Sep 2 110d
Lettuce Mar 10 – Mar 24 Mar 24 – May 5 Apr 7 – Apr 21 May 8 – Jul 4 53d
Lima Bean — May 5 – Jul 5 — Jul 9 – Oct 3 78d
Loofah (Luffa) — May 5 – Jun 2 May 5 – May 19 Aug 3 – Oct 30 120d
Malabar Spinach Mar 31 – Apr 7 May 5 – Jul 25 May 5 – May 19 Jul 4 – Oct 3 65d
Marconi Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 19 – Aug 12 80d
Mustard Greens — Mar 24 – May 5 — Apr 28 – Jun 19 40d
Napa Cabbage Feb 24 – Mar 10 — Apr 7 – Apr 21 May 27 – Jul 10 65d
Okra — May 12 – Jul 30 May 12 – May 26 Jul 6 – Oct 3 60d
Onion Feb 10 – Feb 24 — Mar 24 – Apr 7 Jun 22 – Jul 26 100d
Parsnip — Apr 7 – May 5 — Jul 16 – Sep 2 110d
Poblano Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 9 – Aug 7 73d
Pole Bean — Apr 28 – Jul 25 — Jun 27 – Oct 3 65d
Potato — Apr 7 – May 5 — Jun 16 – Sep 2 95d
Pumpkin — May 5 – Jun 5 — Aug 8 – Oct 3 108d
Radish — Mar 24 – May 19 — Apr 15 – Jun 18 26d
Rhubarb — — Mar 24 – Apr 21 — 1.5 yr
Roma Tomato Mar 10 – Mar 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 7 – Jul 31 75d
Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus) — May 12 – Jun 2 May 12 – May 26 Aug 20 – Oct 30 125d
Rutabaga — Apr 7 – May 5 — Jul 6 – Aug 13 95d
Scallion (Bunching Onion) — Mar 24 – May 19 — May 23 – Jul 28 65d
Scarlet Runner Bean — Apr 28 – Jul 25 — Jun 27 – Oct 3 65d
Serrano Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jul 19 – Aug 7 78d
Shallot — — Mar 24 – Apr 7 Jun 22 – Jul 16 95d
Shishito Pepper Feb 24 – Mar 10 — May 5 – May 19 Jun 29 – Jul 23 60d
Snow Pea — Mar 10 – Apr 7 — May 9 – Jun 16 65d
Spinach — Mar 10 – Apr 21 — Apr 14 – Jun 5 40d
Sugar Snap Pea — Mar 10 – Apr 7 — May 4 – Jun 11 60d
Sweet Corn — Apr 28 – Jul 5 — Jul 2 – Oct 3 78d
Sweet Potato — — May 5 – Jun 2 Aug 3 – Sep 30 105d
Swiss Chard — Apr 7 – May 19 — May 27 – Jul 18 55d
Tomatillo Mar 10 – Mar 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 12 – Aug 20 88d
Tomato Mar 10 – Mar 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jun 27 – Aug 5 73d
Turnip — Mar 24 – May 5 — May 3 – Jul 4 50d
Winter Squash — May 5 – Jun 15 — Aug 3 – Oct 3 100d
Yellow Summer Squash Mar 31 – Apr 7 May 5 – Aug 9 May 5 – May 19 Jun 19 – Oct 3 50d
Zucchini Mar 31 – Apr 7 May 5 – Aug 9 May 5 – May 19 Jun 19 – Oct 3 50d

Herbs 20

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anise Hyssop — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Basil Mar 10 – Mar 24 May 5 – Jul 25 May 5 – May 19 Jun 24 – Oct 3 60d
Chervil — Apr 7 – May 5 — May 22 – Jul 4 53d
Chives — Mar 24 – Apr 21 Apr 7 – May 5 — 75d
Cilantro — Apr 7 – May 5 — May 17 – Jun 29 48d
Dill — Apr 7 – May 19 — May 17 – Jul 13 48d
Fennel — Apr 21 – Jul 5 — Jun 25 – Oct 3 78d
French Tarragon — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 85d
German Chamomile — Apr 7 – May 5 — Jun 6 – Jul 9 63d
Ginger — — May 19 – Jun 16 — 270d
Lemon Balm — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 80d
Lemongrass — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 105d
Mint — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 75d
Oregano — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 85d
Parsley Feb 10 – Feb 24 — Apr 7 – May 5 Jun 16 – Aug 3 80d
Sage — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 83d
Shiso (Japanese Basil) Mar 10 – Mar 24 Apr 28 – Jul 10 Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 7 – Oct 3 78d
Summer Savory Mar 10 – Mar 24 May 5 – Jul 25 May 5 – May 19 Jul 4 – Oct 3 65d
Thai Basil Mar 10 – Mar 24 May 5 – Jul 20 May 5 – May 19 Jul 4 – Oct 3 68d
Thyme — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 135d

Fruits 25

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Almond — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 3.5 yr
Apple — — Mar 24 – May 5 — 3.5 yr
Apricot — — Mar 24 – May 5 — 3.5 yr
Black Walnut — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 4.5 yr
Blackberry — — Mar 24 – Apr 21 — 1.2 yr
Blueberry — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 2.5 yr
Cantaloupe Mar 31 – Apr 7 May 5 – Jul 5 May 5 – May 19 Jul 14 – Oct 3 80d
Cranberry — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Elderberry — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 2.5 yr
English (Persian) Walnut — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 4.5 yr
Gooseberry — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 2.5 yr
Grape — — Apr 7 – May 5 — 2.5 yr
Ground Cherry Mar 10 – Mar 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 2 – Jul 26 70d
Honeyberry (Haskap) — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 2.5 yr
Honeydew Melon Mar 31 – Apr 7 May 5 – Jun 25 May 5 – May 19 Jul 24 – Oct 3 90d
Peach — — Mar 24 – May 5 — 2.5 yr
Pear — — Mar 24 – May 5 — 3.5 yr
Pecan — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 4.5 yr
Plum — — Mar 24 – May 5 — 3.5 yr
Raspberry — — Mar 24 – Apr 21 — 1.2 yr
Red/Black Currant — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 2.5 yr
Strawberry — — Mar 24 – Apr 21 — 243d
Sweet Cherry — — Mar 24 – May 5 — 3.5 yr
Tart (Pie) Cherry — — Mar 24 – May 5 — 3.5 yr
Watermelon Mar 31 – Apr 7 May 5 – Jun 30 May 5 – May 19 Jul 19 – Oct 3 85d

Flowers 37

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Bachelor's Button (Cornflower) — Mar 24 – May 5 — May 28 – Jul 14 68d
Bee Balm — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Black-Eyed Susan — Apr 21 – Jun 5 Apr 21 – May 19 — 110d
Borage — Apr 21 – Jul 25 — Jun 15 – Oct 3 63d
Butterfly Milkweed — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Calendula — Apr 7 – May 5 — May 22 – Jul 4 53d
Cleome (Spider Flower) — Apr 28 – Jul 20 — Jun 22 – Oct 3 65d
Cosmos — Apr 28 – Jul 5 — Jun 27 – Oct 3 75d
Dahlia — — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 27 – Sep 9 105d
Delphinium — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
French Marigold Mar 17 – Mar 31 Apr 28 – Aug 4 Apr 28 – May 12 Jun 12 – Oct 3 53d
Garden Geranium (Zonal) Feb 10 – Feb 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 7 – Aug 10 80d
Garden Phlox — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Garden Rose (Shrub) — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Garden Verbena Feb 24 – Mar 10 Apr 28 – Jul 5 Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 7 – Oct 3 80d
Hardy Hibiscus — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Hearts & Flowers (Heartleaf Iceplant) — — Apr 28 – May 19 — 75d
Hollyhock Feb 24 – Mar 10 — Apr 7 – Apr 21 — 1.5 yr
Lantana Feb 24 – Mar 10 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 7 – Aug 10 80d
Lavender — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian) Jan 27 – Feb 10 — May 5 – May 19 Aug 13 – Sep 16 110d
Nasturtium — Apr 28 – Jul 30 — Jun 17 – Oct 3 58d
New England Aster — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Oriental Poppy — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine — — May 5 – Jun 2 Jul 4 – Aug 31 75d
Panicle Hydrangea — — Apr 7 – May 19 — 2.5 yr
Pansy Feb 10 – Feb 24 — Mar 24 – Apr 7 Jun 2 – Jul 6 80d
Petunia Feb 10 – Feb 24 — Apr 28 – May 12 Jul 7 – Aug 10 80d
Purple Coneflower — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Salvia — — Apr 28 – May 12 — 110d
Sedum ('Autumn Joy'-type) — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 1.5 yr
Snapdragon Feb 24 – Mar 10 — Apr 7 – Apr 21 Jun 26 – Jul 30 90d
Sunflower — Apr 28 – Jun 25 — Jul 7 – Oct 3 85d
Sweet Alyssum — Apr 7 – May 5 Apr 21 – May 5 May 27 – Jul 4 55d
Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle) Mar 24 – Apr 7 Apr 28 – Jul 20 Apr 28 – May 12 Jun 27 – Oct 3 68d
Yarrow — — Apr 21 – May 19 — 135d
Zinnia Mar 24 – Apr 7 Apr 28 – Jul 20 Apr 28 – May 12 Jun 27 – Oct 3 68d
Local pages

Cities in zone 6a

18

Albany, NY · Syracuse, NY · Portland, ME · Manchester, NH · Grand Rapids, MI · Ann Arbor, MI · Milwaukee, WI · Omaha, NE · Lincoln, NE · Springfield, IL · Peoria, IL · South Bend, IN · Flagstaff, AZ · Denver, CO · Colorado Springs, CO · Boulder, CO · London, ON · Halifax, NS

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