Brockton, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
Brockton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 22 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 178 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 22
- Typical first frost
- October 19
- Frost-free season
- 178 days
Frost dates in Brockton
Last spring frost
- April 8Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 22Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 5Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 19Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 3Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 178 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 6 and returns around October 31.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Brockton, 2.5 miles SSE 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 Brockton
January
Start indoors: collard greens, 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, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, 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, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Brockton
All 2 of Brockton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Brockton, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Brockton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 15 to 29 | Jul 20 to Aug 24 |
| Cilantro | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Basil | Apr 3 to 17 | May 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
| Onions | Dec 31 to Feb 11 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 6 to Apr 3 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 1 to 22 | Jul 27 to Aug 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 4 to 25 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 3 to 31 |
| Peas | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Spinach | Mar 11 to 18 | Apr 15 to 29 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 22 to May 13 | — |
| Zinnias | May 26 to Jun 2 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 7 to Nov 2 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 7 to Oct 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 7 to 21 |
Nearby cities
- Weymouth Town, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
- Quincy, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
- Taunton, MA zone 6b, last frost May 2
- Boston, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Newton, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
- Cambridge, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Brockton
Questions
When is the last frost in Brockton?
Around April 22 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Brockton. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 5.
What planting zone is Brockton in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Brockton?
Start seeds indoors March 27 to April 10 and set plants out May 22 to June 5.
When is the first frost in Brockton?
Around October 19 in a typical year, and before October 5 about 1 year in 10.