When to Plant in Massachusetts: Vegetable & Flower Planting Calendar
Quick answer
Plant around your local last spring frost: across the 539 Massachusetts ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median is Apr 27 and the median first fall frost is Oct 14 (nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020). Transplant tomatoes 1–2 weeks after your last frost: Zone 5 areas: May 14 – May 21; Zone 6 areas: May 6 – May 13; Zone 7 areas: Apr 23 – Apr 30.
Massachusetts spans USDA hardiness zones 5b–7b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). For the 539 of its 539 ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the nearest NOAA station’s median last spring frost (32°F, 1991–2020) is Apr 27 (middle 80% of ZIP codes: Apr 13 – May 6) and the median first fall frost is Oct 14 (Oct 5 – Nov 3). Use this guide to time seed-starting, transplanting and fall planting.
Where these dates come from: every date range is counted from the median (50% probability) 32°F last spring and first fall frost dates in NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the area shown. The rule under each date, such as “4–6 weeks before last frost,” shows how it was counted. These are averages: in about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date, and elevation, nearby water and microclimate can shift your yard by a week or more. For dates for your exact location, enter your ZIP code in the planner.
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Massachusetts frost dates by zone area
| Zone areas | Most common nearest NOAA stations | Median last spring frost (32°F) | Median first fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 (52 ZIP codes) | Lenox Dale, MA, E Hawley, MA, Pittsfield Muni Airport, MA | May 7middle 80%: May 1 – May 17 | Oct 4middle 80%: Oct 1 – Oct 11 |
| Zone 6 (346 ZIP codes) | Worcester Rgnl Airport, MA, Jamaica Plain, MA, Westfield Barnes Muni Airport, MA | Apr 29middle 80%: Apr 19 – May 4 | Oct 12middle 80%: Oct 8 – Oct 23 |
| Zone 7 (138 ZIP codes) | Boston Logan Intl Airport, MA, Chatham Muni Airport, MA, E Wareham, MA | Apr 16middle 80%: Apr 4 – Apr 29 | Oct 31middle 80%: Oct 16 – Nov 9 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal freeze-date probabilities (32°F, 50% probability). Station-level medians; your yard may differ.
How this table is built: each Massachusetts ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles) and grouped by its 2023 USDA hardiness zone; dates are medians across the ZIP codes in each group. Some nearest stations are across the state line (Copake, NY, Falls Village, CT, Greenland, NH, Hartford Bradley Intl Airport, CT, Nashua Cwsu, NH, Norfolk 2 Sw, CT…). For your own ZIP, use the planner.
Massachusetts vegetable planting calendar
Planting dates for each zone area of Massachusetts, counted from that area’s median frost dates (shown under each column). Rows run in calendar order. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP.
| Plant, task and rule | Zone 5 areasLast frost May 7 · First frost Oct 4 | Zone 6 areasLast frost Apr 29 · First frost Oct 12 | Zone 7 areasLast frost Apr 16 · First frost Oct 31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| Cabbage · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| Kale · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| Tomatoes · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Peppers · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Eggplant · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Peas · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 26 – Apr 9Harvest (est.) May 25 – Jun 28 | Mar 18 – Apr 1Harvest (est.) May 17 – Jun 20 | Mar 5 – Mar 19Harvest (est.) May 4 – Jun 7 |
| Spinach · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 26 – Apr 9Harvest (est.) May 10 – Jun 8 | Mar 18 – Apr 1Harvest (est.) May 2 – May 31 | Mar 5 – Mar 19Harvest (est.) Apr 19 – May 18 |
| Basil · Start indoors4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Radishes · Direct sow2–5 weeks before last frost | Apr 2 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Apr 22 – May 23 | Mar 25 – Apr 15Harvest (est.) Apr 14 – May 15 | Mar 12 – Apr 2Harvest (est.) Apr 1 – May 2 |
| Lettuce · Direct sow2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Jun 8 – Jul 12 | Apr 1 – Apr 15Harvest (est.) May 31 – Jul 4 | Mar 19 – Apr 2Harvest (est.) May 18 – Jun 21 |
| Onions (sets/transplants) · Plant sets/transplants2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Jul 3 – Aug 21 | Apr 1 – Apr 15Harvest (est.) Jun 25 – Aug 13 | Mar 19 – Apr 2Harvest (est.) Jun 12 – Jul 31 |
| Broccoli · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) May 29 – Jul 2 | Apr 1 – Apr 15Harvest (est.) May 21 – Jun 24 | Mar 19 – Apr 2Harvest (est.) May 8 – Jun 11 |
| Cabbage · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Jun 18 – Jul 22 | Apr 1 – Apr 15Harvest (est.) Jun 10 – Jul 14 | Mar 19 – Apr 2Harvest (est.) May 28 – Jul 1 |
| Kale · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Marigolds · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 16 – May 7 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Mar 26 – Apr 16 |
| Zinnias · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 16 – May 7 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Mar 26 – Apr 16 |
| Potatoes · Plant seed potatoes1–2 weeks before last frost | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jul 17 – Aug 18 | Apr 15 – Apr 22Harvest (est.) Jul 9 – Aug 10 | Apr 2 – Apr 9Harvest (est.) Jun 26 – Jul 28 |
| Marigolds · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | May 7 – May 21 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Zinnias · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | May 7 – May 21 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Tomatoes · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jul 23 – Aug 19 | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jul 15 – Aug 11 | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jul 2 – Jul 29 |
| Beans (bush & pole) · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 28 – Jul 30 | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jun 20 – Jul 22 | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jun 7 – Jul 9 |
| Sweet corn · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jul 18 – Aug 19 | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jul 10 – Aug 11 | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jun 27 – Jul 29 |
| Cucumbers · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 23 – Jul 25 | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jun 15 – Jul 17 | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jun 2 – Jul 4 |
| Squash · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 23 – Jul 10 | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jun 15 – Jul 2 | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jun 2 – Jun 19 |
| Pumpkins · Direct sow1–3 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 28Harvest (est.) Aug 2 – Sep 5 | May 6 – May 20Harvest (est.) Jul 25 – Aug 28 | Apr 23 – May 7Harvest (est.) Jul 12 – Aug 15 |
| Basil · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 25 – Jul 2 | May 6 – May 13Harvest (est.) Jun 17 – Jun 24 | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jun 4 – Jun 11 |
| Peppers · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | May 21 – May 28Harvest (est.) Jul 25 – Aug 11 | May 13 – May 20Harvest (est.) Jul 17 – Aug 3 | Apr 30 – May 7Harvest (est.) Jul 4 – Jul 21 |
| Eggplant · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | May 21 – May 28Harvest (est.) Jul 30 – Aug 26 | May 13 – May 20Harvest (est.) Jul 22 – Aug 18 | Apr 30 – May 7Harvest (est.) Jul 9 – Aug 5 |
| Broccoli · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 12 – Jul 26Harvest (est.) Aug 31 – Oct 4 | Jul 20 – Aug 3Harvest (est.) Sep 8 – Oct 12 | Aug 8 – Aug 22Harvest (est.) Sep 27 – Oct 31 |
| Cabbage · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 12 – Jul 26Harvest (est.) Sep 20 – Oct 24 | Jul 20 – Aug 3Harvest (est.) Sep 28 – Nov 1 | Aug 8 – Aug 22Harvest (est.) Oct 17 – Nov 20 |
| Kale · Fall sow8–10 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 26 – Aug 9Harvest (est.) Sep 14 – Oct 18 | Aug 3 – Aug 17Harvest (est.) Sep 22 – Oct 26 | Aug 22 – Sep 5Harvest (est.) Oct 11 – Nov 14 |
| Lettuce · Fall sow6–8 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 9 – Aug 23Harvest (est.) Oct 8 – Nov 11 | Aug 17 – Aug 31Harvest (est.) Oct 16 – Nov 19 | Sep 5 – Sep 19Harvest (est.) Nov 4 – Dec 8 |
| Spinach · Fall sow4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) | Aug 16 – Sep 6Harvest (est.) Sep 30 – Nov 5 | Aug 24 – Sep 14Harvest (est.) Oct 8 – Nov 13 | Sep 12 – Oct 3Harvest (est.) Oct 27 – Dec 2 |
| Radishes · Fall sow4–6 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 23 – Sep 6Harvest (est.) Sep 12 – Oct 6 | Aug 31 – Sep 14Harvest (est.) Sep 20 – Oct 14 | Sep 19 – Oct 3Harvest (est.) Oct 9 – Nov 2 |
| Daffodils · Fall plant bulbs4 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Sep 6 – Oct 18 | Sep 14 – Oct 26 | Oct 3 – Nov 14 |
| Tulips · Fall plant bulbs2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Sep 20 – Nov 1 | Sep 28 – Nov 9 | Oct 17 – Nov 28 |
| Garlic · Fall plant cloves2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) | Sep 20 – Oct 25Harvest (est.) May 28, 2027 – Jul 22, 2027 | Sep 28 – Nov 2Harvest (est.) Jun 5, 2027 – Jul 30, 2027 | Oct 17 – Nov 21Harvest (est.) Jun 24, 2027 – Aug 18, 2027 |
About the harvest estimates
Each expected harvest window adds the days to harvest from the sources below to the planting window. Days count from sowing seed (or planting seed potatoes, onion sets or garlic cloves) or, where marked, from setting transplants out; “Start indoors” rows have no harvest of their own. Harvest timing varies with variety and weather, and many crops keep producing for weeks after the first picking. For frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil) the window stops at the first fall frost: harvest may end early at the first fall frost. Flowers and bulbs show no harvest window, and kale has no sourced figure for spring transplants.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Growing notes for each crop
- Peas: Tolerates light frost; sow when soil is workable
- Spinach: Fall crop too: sow 4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech)
- Lettuce: Bolts in heat; succession sow; fall crop too
- Radishes: Fast (3–4 weeks); sow again for fall (see Fall sow dates)
- Kale: Fall crop too (see Fall sow dates); frost sweetens leaves
- Onions (sets/transplants): Choose day-length type suited to your latitude
- Potatoes: Soil at least 45°F (UMD); hill as plants grow
- Broccoli: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Cabbage: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Tomatoes: Wait for nights reliably above about 52°F (Colorado State)
- Peppers: Need warm soil: about 65°F is optimal for transplanting (UC ANR)
- Eggplant: Transplant after nights stay above 50°F (UMN)
- Beans (bush & pole): Seeds rot in cold, wet soil
- Sweet corn: Soil 60°F+ (UNH, UMN); plant in blocks for pollination
- Cucumbers: Frost-tender; watch for cucumber beetles
- Squash: Frost-tender; watch for squash vine borer
- Pumpkins: For October pumpkins, many sow in late May–June
- Basil: Very cold-sensitive
- Marigolds: Easy warm-season annual
- Zinnias: Easy warm-season annual
- Tulips: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule. In zone 9, chill bulbs 12–16 weeks first (Clemson)
- Daffodils: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule; slightly earlier than tulips is fine
- Garlic: Harvest the following early summer
Massachusetts USDA zone guides: Zone 5 planting guide Zone 6 planting guide Zone 7 planting guide
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Tips for Massachusetts gardeners
- Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — warm-season crops stall in cold soil. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps.
- Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before planting out (UC ANR, SDSU).
- Ask your local Cooperative Extension office about varieties and timing for your county; find it in the USDA NIFA land-grant university directory.
- Keep weeds down early — see our weed identification guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Massachusetts?
Across the 539 Massachusetts ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) at the nearest station is Apr 27, and the middle 80% of ZIP codes range from Apr 13 to May 6. Check the average for your ZIP code, and remember frost can occur after the average date.
When can I plant tomatoes in Massachusetts?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after your average last frost, once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State). Typical dates: Zone 5 areas: May 14 – May 21; Zone 6 areas: May 6 – May 13; Zone 7 areas: Apr 23 – Apr 30.
What USDA zone is Massachusetts?
Massachusetts spans roughly USDA hardiness zones 5b–7b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
Other state planting calendars
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