Chicopee, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
Chicopee is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 3 and the first fall frost around October 8, giving about 158 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- May 3
- Typical first frost
- October 8
- Frost-free season
- 158 days
Frost dates in Chicopee
Last spring frost
- April 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 3Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 25Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 158 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 21 and returns around October 20.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Westfield Barnes Muni Airport, 7.5 miles WNW of the city center and 203 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Chicopee shares this station with Springfield, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Chicopee
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, 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, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Chicopee
All 3 of Chicopee's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Westfield Barnes Muni Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01013 | 6a | Westfield Barnes Muni Airport, 6.3 mi W | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 01020 | 6a | Westfield Barnes Muni Airport, 7.5 mi WNW | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 01022 | 6a | Westfield Barnes Muni Airport, 9.3 mi WSW | May 3 | Oct 8 |
Westfield Barnes Muni Airport also supplies the frost dates for Springfield, so their planting calendars match Chicopee's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Chicopee
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Jul 9 to Aug 13 |
| Cilantro | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Apr 1 to 15 | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Onions | Jan 11 to Feb 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 4 to Apr 1 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12 to May 3 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 15 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to 19 | Jul 23 to Aug 20 |
| Peas | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Mar 22 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3 to 24 | — |
| Zinnias | May 28 to Jun 4 | Jun 25 to Jul 9 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 27 to Oct 22 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 27 to Oct 8 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
Nearby cities
- Springfield, MA zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Hartford, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 17
- New Britain, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 17
- Bristol, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
- Meriden, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Waterbury, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Chicopee
Questions
When is the last frost in Chicopee?
Around May 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Westfield Barnes Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 17.
What planting zone is Chicopee in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Chicopee?
Start seeds indoors March 25 to April 8 and set plants out May 20 to June 3.
When is the first frost in Chicopee?
Around October 8 in a typical year, and before September 26 about 1 year in 10.