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.
- 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
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, 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
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
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
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, centipedegrass, green onions, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, 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 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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Haverhill
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 4 to 18 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Jul 13 to Aug 17 |
| Cilantro | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Apr 11 to 25 | May 30 to Jun 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Jan 9 to Feb 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 14 to Apr 11 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 20 to Aug 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 15 to 22 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Zucchini | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 27 to Aug 24 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 20 to Aug 3 |
| Spinach | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Aug 3 to Sep 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 3 to 10 | Jul 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 31 to Oct 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 31 to Oct 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
Nearby cities
- Lawrence, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 13
- Lowell, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Peabody, MA zone 6b, last frost May 3
- Nashua, NH zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Lynn, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Manchester, NH zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
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.