Massachusetts frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 1 cities in Massachusetts, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Apr 4 | Apr 17 | Nov 9 | 218 |
Planting calendar for Boston
The largest city we cover in Massachusetts. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Apr 4
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 17. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 9
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 29. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
218
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 218 days. Station: Boston Logan International Airport, MA, 3 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
February
The next window opens in February.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 6
- Start indoors
- Feb 6 – Feb 20
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 6
- Start indoors
- Feb 6 – Feb 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow for fall
- Aug 6 – Aug 20
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow for fall
- Aug 6 – Aug 20
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 27 – Apr 17
- Sow for fall
- Aug 6 – Aug 20
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 27 – Mar 27
- Sow for fall
- Aug 6 – Aug 20
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Feb 20
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 10 – Apr 17
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 20
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 6 – Apr 3
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 6 – Apr 3
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 6
- Start indoors
- Mar 6 – Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 6
- Start indoors
- Mar 6 – Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 6
- Start indoors
- Mar 6 – Mar 20
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 24
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 24
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – May 1
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 24 – May 1
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – May 1
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Mar 27
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – May 1
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow for fall
- Aug 6 – Aug 20
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 17
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 27
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 27 – Mar 27
- Sow for fall
- Aug 6 – Aug 20
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 27
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 27 – Mar 27
- Sow for fall
- Aug 6 – Aug 20
April
The next window opens in April.
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 10
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 17
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 17
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 24
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – May 1
May
The next window opens in May.
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 1 – May 1
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 17
- Sow for fall
- Sep 17 – Sep 17
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.