Last spring freeze
Apr 4
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Mar 25 – Apr 17
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 17.
Boston, MA · NOAA frost dates
Boston frost dates & planting calendar
Last spring freeze ~Apr 4, first fall freeze ~Nov 9: a median of 219 frost-free days. The calendar below is already set to Boston (ZIP 02108). Type your own ZIP for the station nearest you.
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Boston, MA · ZIP 02108 · try yours
Boston MA area
Last spring frost
~Apr 4
safer: Apr 17
First fall frost
~Nov 9
safer: Oct 29
Growing season
219
frost-free days
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall planting
- Harvest
Median dates from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Averages, not forecasts. How it works
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals
Boston frost dates at a glance
32°F freeze dates for the Boston Logan Intl Ap, MA weather station, 4 km from ZIP 02108, 4 m up.
First fall freeze
Nov 9
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Oct 29 – Nov 22
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 29.
Growing season
219
median frost-free days
USDA zone 7a
Station: Boston Logan Intl Ap, MA
Long-term averages, not a forecast. Your yard can run one to three weeks off these dates, so check the 10-day forecast before planting out.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F freeze probabilities: 10%, 50%, 90%). Public domain. How we use it
Planting dates for Boston
When to plant in Boston
Worked out from the median frost dates (and, for warm-season crops, NOAA’s normal night lows) with the same crop rules as the calendar below. Tap any crop there for its dates.
-
Tomatoes
- Start indoors
- Mar 13 – Mar 27
- Transplant out
- May 15 – Jun 5
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 11, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about May 15, so they go out then, started indoors 9 weeks before. Transplant when nights stay above 50°F (10°C).
-
Peppers
- Start indoors
- Feb 20 – Mar 6
- Transplant out
- May 15 – May 29
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 18, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about May 15, so they go out then, started indoors 12 weeks before. Loves warm soil, 65°F+ (18°C+).
-
Peas
- Sow outside
- Feb 21 – Mar 14
- Fall sowing
- Aug 31 – Sep 14
3–6 weeks before the last frost, and again 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost. Sow as soon as soil can be worked (40°F/4°C+).
-
Lettuce
- Sow outside
- Mar 7 – Apr 18
- Fall sowing
- Sep 14 – Oct 12
From 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost, and 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost. Bolts in heat; sow small batches often.
-
Garlic
- Plant cloves
- Oct 26 – Nov 30
- Harvest
- Jun 6 – Jun 27, next year
2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant cloves in fall; harvest next summer when lower leaves brown.
This week
Right now in your garden
Full year
Your planting calendar
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall sowing / planting
- Harvest
- Harvest the season after planting
- Est. frost date
No crops match. Try another search, or clear “My picks”.
Tap ☆ to add a crop to your picks. Tap a crop name for exact dates and growing notes. Your picks and location are saved on this device.
Straight answers
Frost questions
When is the last frost in Boston?
The median last spring freeze (32°F) at NOAA’s Boston Logan Intl Ap, MA station is Apr 4, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Mar 25 and Apr 17, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 17.
When is the first fall frost in Boston?
The median first fall freeze (32°F) is Nov 9. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Oct 29 and Nov 22, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 29. That leaves a median of 219 frost-free days.
When should I plant tomatoes in Boston?
Using FrostLine’s crop rules with the median last frost of Apr 4 and NOAA’s normal night lows: start tomato seeds indoors Mar 13 – Mar 27 and transplant them outside May 15 – Jun 5. Frost alone would allow Apr 11, but nights here only average 50°F (10°C) from about May 15.
Are these dates a forecast?
No. They are long-term averages, not a forecast for this year. Your own garden can differ by one to three weeks with elevation, slope, wind and how built-up it is. Check the 10-day forecast before setting out tender plants, and enter your own ZIP for the nearest station.
How it works: each ZIP is matched to the nearest NOAA station with freeze records. More on our method.
Frost dates by city
More frost dates by city
Each page opens the same free calendar, set to that city. Or start from the home page.
- CO · zone 6a Denver Last frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 12 165 frost-free days
- IL · zone 6b Chicago Last frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Nov 5 209 frost-free days
- WA · zone 9a Seattle Last frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 17 249 frost-free days
- GA · zone 8a Atlanta Last frost ~Mar 24First frost ~Nov 8 229 frost-free days
- TX · zone 8a Dallas Last frost ~Mar 2First frost ~Nov 29 272 frost-free days
- MN · zone 4b Minneapolis Last frost ~Apr 23First frost ~Oct 16 176 frost-free days
- OR · zone 8b Portland Last frost ~Feb 25First frost ~Dec 1 279 frost-free days
- TN · zone 7a Nashville Last frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Oct 31 213 frost-free days
- UT · zone 7a Salt Lake City Last frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 8 222 frost-free days