Do you want to grow Bay Leafs in Hardiness Zone 6, but don’t know when to plant them?
Planting Bay Leafs is not as easy as it seems.
Here’s why:
- Bay Leafs are not able to survive frost or cold weather under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
So if you plant them outside too early in the spring they will die. And if you plant them too late, your Bay Leafs won’t produce a harvest before the first frost arrives in the fall.
Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to plant Bay Leafs in Hardiness Zone 6.
- To Learn More About HOW to Grow Bay Leafs, Check Out This GUIDE!
When to Plant Bay Leafs in Hardiness Zone 6
As you may have already guessed, you need to pay very close attention to your local weather in the spring. Specifically, you are going to need to watch when the last frost occurs.
In general, when there hasn’t been a frost for two weeks, you are SAFE to plant your Bay Leafs outside in Hardiness Zone 6!
Unfortunately, Mother Nature plays cruel tricks on us every year.
There are years when the last frost comes MUCH later. Sometimes, the last frost happens much earlier and you can get your Bay Leafs planted outside in Hardiness Zone 6 much quicker.
Like I said before, you need to be very diligent in checking your local weather.
So what happens if a frost comes AFTER you plant your Bay Leafs?
When you know a frost is coming you need to take action.
- If Bay Leafs are in pots, bring them inside
- If Bay Leafs are in the ground, cover them in burlap and hope they survive
Also, make sure not to plant your Bay Leafs in your garden too late.
- Planting Bay Leafs too late will cause small Bay Leafs or even worse, no Bay Leafs.
When Should You Start Your Bay Leaf Seeds Indoors?
Depending on the type of Bay Leaf, it takes roughly 120-180 days to grow Bay Leafs from seed indoors and then transplant them to your garden.
For a specific date that you should start Bay Leaf seeds indoors you should:
- Find the last average frost date HERE
- And then subtract 180 days from it
Not only this, but I recommend again paying close attention to your local weather report.
It should also be noted that the best technique for bringing your Bay Leaf plants outside is to introduce them (in their pots) outside for an hour. And then increase the amount of time they spend outside each day by an hour until they have been outside for 8 hours.
This will “hardened” your Bay Leaf plant, increasing its chances of fighting off diseases, insects, droughts, and wet conditions.
If you want to learn WHEN to plant ANY Vegetable in Hardiness Zone 6, head over to HERE and just type in the vegetable you want to grow.
