Frost dates for Leverett #2, MA
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 2
typical year
Safe to plant
May 16
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 9
typical year
Growing season
160 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 4 – 18 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Aug 14 – 28 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 4 – 25 | Aug 14 – 28 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 4 – May 16 | Aug 28 – Sep 11 |
| Onions | – | Apr 4 – 18 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 11 – 25 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 11 – May 2 | Jul 17 – 31 |
| Beets | – | Apr 4 – 18 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Kale | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 4 – 18 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Broccoli | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Cabbage | Feb 7 – 21 | Apr 4 – 18 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 28 – Sep 18 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 16 – 30 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 14 – 28 | May 23 – Jun 6 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 16 – Jun 6 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 16 – Jun 13 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 16 – Jun 6 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 16 – Jul 31 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 16 – Jun 13 | – |
| Basil | Apr 11 – 25 | May 23 – 30 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | May 16 | May 2 | April 21 |
| Fall frost before | September 29 | October 9 | October 25 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around April 21 (May 4 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 23.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station LEVERETT #2, MA US (USC00194154), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 5 zip codes, all within 6 miles:
01054, 01072, 01093, 01373, 01375
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.