Frost dates & planting calendar for Boston, MA
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.
7a
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 0 to 5°F (−17.8 to −15.0°C).
Zone for ZIP 02127, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 7a means.
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).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Feb 20 to Mar 6, then plant them out from Apr 17 to May 1.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 17 in spring, Oct 29 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
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.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Boston?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Boston is Apr 4. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 17.
- When is the first frost in Boston?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 9. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 29.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Boston?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 20 and Mar 6, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Boston in?
- Boston is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 02127, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
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