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Haverhill, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates

Haverhill is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 12, giving about 163 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a (parts in 6b)
Typical last frost
May 1
Typical first frost
October 12
Frost-free season
163 days

Frost dates in Haverhill

Last spring frost

  • April 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 12Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 163 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 19 and returns around October 23.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Haverhill, 2.6 miles S of the city center and 151 feet lower. 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 Haverhill

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons

    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

  5. May

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, 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, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  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, centipedegrass, green onions, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips

  9. September

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

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Haverhill

All 3 of Haverhill's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Haverhill, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6a in 01830, 01832, and 6b in 01835.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
018306aHaverhill, 2.6 mi SMay 1Oct 12
018326aHaverhill, 4.3 mi ESEMay 1Oct 12
018356bHaverhill, 1.8 mi ENEMay 1Oct 12

Planting dates for popular crops in Haverhill

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesApr 4 to 18May 30 to Jun 13—
Strawberries—Mar 20 to Apr 3—
LettuceMar 6 to 20Apr 24 to May 8Jul 13 to Aug 17
CilantroMar 20 to Apr 3May 1 to 8—
BasilApr 11 to 25May 30 to Jun 6—
Potatoes—Apr 27 to May 4—
Garlic—Mar 20 to Apr 3Oct 12 to 26
OnionsJan 9 to Feb 20Apr 3 to 17—
CucumbersMay 2 to 16May 30 to Jun 13—
PumpkinsMay 2 to 16May 30 to Jun 13—
PeppersMar 14 to Apr 11May 30 to Jun 13—
Carrots—Apr 10 to May 1Jul 20 to Aug 10
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 15 to 22—
WatermelonsApr 25 to May 9May 30 to Jun 13—
Sweet Corn—May 1 to 15—
Green Beans—May 30 to Jun 13—
ZucchiniMay 2 to 16May 30 to Jun 13—
BroccoliFeb 13 to Mar 6Apr 3 to 17Jul 27 to Aug 24
Peas—Mar 20 to Apr 3Jul 20 to Aug 3
SpinachMar 20 to 27Apr 24 to May 8Aug 3 to Sep 7
Sunflowers—May 1 to 22—
ZinniasJun 3 to 10Jul 1 to 15—
Tulips——Aug 31 to Oct 26
Daffodils——Aug 31 to Oct 12
Grass Seed—Mar 20 to Apr 3Aug 31 to Sep 14

Nearby cities

Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Haverhill

Questions

When is the last frost in Haverhill?

Around May 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Haverhill. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 14.

What planting zone is Haverhill in?

USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Haverhill?

Start seeds indoors April 4 to 18 and set plants out May 30 to June 13.

When is the first frost in Haverhill?

Around October 12 in a typical year, and before October 1 about 1 year in 10.