Barnstable Town, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
Barnstable Town is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 30, giving about 195 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 16
- Typical first frost
- October 30
- Frost-free season
- 195 days
Frost dates in Barnstable Town
Last spring frost
- April 5Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 30Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 13Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 195 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 3 and returns around November 11.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Hyannis, 4.3 miles SE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Barnstable Town
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, eggplants, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, potatoes, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Barnstable Town
All 7 of Barnstable Town's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Hyannis, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02601 | 7a | Hyannis, 0.6 mi WNW | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| 02630 | 7a | Hyannis, 2.9 mi S | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| 02632 | 7a | Hyannis, 2.3 mi E | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| 02635 | 7a | Hyannis, 7.5 mi ENE | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| 02648 | 7a | Hyannis, 5.6 mi E | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| 02655 | 7a | Hyannis, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| 02668 | 7a | Hyannis, 4.3 mi SE | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Barnstable Town
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 8 to 22 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 31 to Sep 4 |
| Cilantro | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Apr 15 to 29 | Jun 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Oct 30 to Nov 13 |
| Onions | Dec 25 to Feb 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 6 to 20 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 6 to 20 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 18 to Apr 15 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 26 to Apr 16 | Aug 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 18 to 25 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 29 to May 13 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Zucchini | May 6 to 20 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 29 to Feb 19 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 14 to Sep 11 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Mar 5 to 12 | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 28 to May 19 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 7 to 14 | Jul 5 to 19 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 18 to Nov 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 18 to Oct 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
Nearby cities
- New Bedford, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 29
- Fall River, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 29
- Taunton, MA zone 6b, last frost May 2
- Brockton, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 22
- Weymouth Town, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
- Quincy, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Barnstable Town
Questions
When is the last frost in Barnstable Town?
Around April 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Hyannis. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 30.
What planting zone is Barnstable Town in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Barnstable Town?
Start seeds indoors April 8 to 22 and set plants out June 3 to 17.
When is the first frost in Barnstable Town?
Around October 30 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.