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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

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

  2. February

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  9. 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

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

  12. 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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
026017aHyannis, 0.6 mi WNWApr 16Oct 30
026307aHyannis, 2.9 mi SApr 16Oct 30
026327aHyannis, 2.3 mi EApr 16Oct 30
026357aHyannis, 7.5 mi ENEApr 16Oct 30
026487aHyannis, 5.6 mi EApr 16Oct 30
026557aHyannis, 5.2 mi ENEApr 16Oct 30
026687aHyannis, 4.3 mi SEApr 16Oct 30

Planting dates for popular crops in Barnstable Town

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesApr 8 to 22Jun 3 to 17—
Strawberries—Mar 5 to 19—
LettuceFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to 23Jul 31 to Sep 4
CilantroMar 5 to 19Apr 16 to 23—
BasilApr 15 to 29Jun 3 to 10—
Potatoes—Apr 28 to May 5—
Garlic—Mar 5 to 19Oct 30 to Nov 13
OnionsDec 25 to Feb 5Mar 19 to Apr 2—
CucumbersMay 6 to 20Jun 3 to 17—
PumpkinsMay 6 to 20Jun 3 to 17—
PeppersMar 18 to Apr 15Jun 3 to 17—
Carrots—Mar 26 to Apr 16Aug 7 to 28
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 18 to 25—
WatermelonsApr 29 to May 13Jun 3 to 17—
Sweet Corn—Apr 28 to May 12—
Green Beans—Jun 3 to 17—
ZucchiniMay 6 to 20Jun 3 to 17—
BroccoliJan 29 to Feb 19Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 14 to Sep 11
Peas—Mar 5 to 19Aug 7 to 21
SpinachMar 5 to 12Apr 9 to 23Aug 21 to Sep 25
Sunflowers—Apr 28 to May 19—
ZinniasJun 7 to 14Jul 5 to 19—
Tulips——Sep 18 to Nov 13
Daffodils——Sep 18 to Oct 30
Grass Seed—Mar 5 to 19Sep 18 to Oct 2

Nearby cities

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.