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Frost Dates and Planting Windows in Massachusetts

The 32°F frost dates at the 69 weather stations in Massachusetts with NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals, and the planting windows they give. These are long-term statistics, not a forecast. For the dates at the station nearest you, enter your ZIP code.

The planner uses the weather station nearest your ZIP code.

Frost dates across Massachusetts

Each risk level uses a date with a set chance of frost. In spring, it's the chance of a 32°F frost on or after the last-frost date. In fall, it's the chance of the first 32°F frost on or before the first-frost date. At the Typical level (30%), the last frost ranges from April 8 to May 22 across the state, and the first frost from September 25 to November 9.

32°F frost dates: earliest and latest among 69 stations, by risk level
Risk levelEarliest last frostLatest last frostEarliest first frostLatest first frost
Conservative (10%)April 17BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA USMay 30E HAWLEY, MA USSeptember 182 stationsNovember 1CHATHAM, MA US
Typical (30%)April 8BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA USMay 22E HAWLEY, MA USSeptember 25E HAWLEY, MA USNovember 9CHATHAM, MA US
Aggressive (50%)April 4BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA USMay 17E HAWLEY, MA USOctober 13 stationsNovember 15CHATHAM, MA US

Growing season length

The growing season is the stretch between the last spring frost and the first fall frost at 32°F. NOAA gives it as a length with a chance of being at least that long. Each risk level uses the length with that chance of a shorter season, so Conservative shows the shortest lengths.

Growing season at 32°F: shortest and longest among 69 stations
Risk levelShortestLongest
Conservative (90% chance of at least this long)118 daysE HAWLEY, MA US205 daysCHATHAM, MA US
Typical (70% chance of at least this long)129 daysE HAWLEY, MA US214 daysCHATHAM, MA US
Aggressive (50% chance of at least this long)136 daysE HAWLEY, MA US221 daysCHATHAM, MA US
Number of stations by growing season length, Typical (70% chance of at least this long)
Growing seasonStations
120–139 days6
140–159 days26
160–179 days23
180–199 days9
200–219 days5

Planting windows across Massachusetts

For each crop, the earliest start and the latest end of its Typical windows among the stations. A window at any one station is shorter and falls inside this span. Transplant dates are for seedlings.

Typical planting windows (30% frost dates): earliest start and latest end among stations
Crop and taskEarliest startLatest endStations
Basil: Transplant outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Bean: Sow outdoorsApril 8May 2269 of 69
Beet: Sow outdoorsMarch 11May 2269 of 69
Beet: Sow for fallJuly 3September 2069 of 69
Broccoli: Transplant outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Broccoli: Transplant for fallJune 23September 2069 of 69
Brussels sprouts: Transplant outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Brussels sprouts: Transplant for fallJune 3September 3069 of 69
Cabbage: Transplant outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Cabbage: Transplant for fallJune 18September 2069 of 69
Cantaloupe: Transplant outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Cantaloupe: Sow outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Carrot: Sow outdoorsMarch 11May 2269 of 69
Carrot: Sow for fallJune 23September 1069 of 69
Cucumber: Transplant outdoorsApril 15May 2969 of 69
Cucumber: Sow outdoorsApril 8May 2269 of 69
Eggplant: Transplant outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Garlic: Plant for fallSeptember 25November 2369 of 69
Lettuce: Transplant outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Lettuce: Sow outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Lettuce: Sow for fallJune 23September 3069 of 69
Onion: Transplant or plant setsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Peas: Sow outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Peas: Sow for fallJuly 1September 2069 of 69
Pepper: Transplant outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Potato: Plant seed potatoesMarch 11May 2269 of 69
Pumpkin: Sow outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Radish: Sow outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Radish: Sow for fallAugust 7October 2069 of 69
Spinach: Transplant outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Spinach: Sow outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Spinach: Sow for fallJuly 13October 369 of 69
Summer squash: Transplant outdoorsApril 15May 2969 of 69
Summer squash: Sow outdoorsApril 8May 2269 of 69
Sweet corn: Sow outdoorsApril 8May 2269 of 69
Sweet potato: Plant slipsApril 15June 569 of 69
Tomato: Transplant outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Turnip: Sow outdoorsMarch 11May 869 of 69
Turnip: Sow for fallJuly 13September 3069 of 69
Watermelon: Transplant outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69
Watermelon: Sow outdoorsApril 22June 569 of 69

Weather stations in Massachusetts

Every station in Massachusetts with NOAA frost-date normals, with its Typical 32°F frost dates and growing season.

Data sources

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, frost dates, 1991–2020 normals, version 1.0.1
Files: us-climate-normals_1991-2020_v1.0.1_annualseasonal_multivariate_by-station_c20230404.tar.gz, inventory_30yr.txt from NOAA NCEI. Retrieved October 10, 2026.