New Bedford, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
New Bedford is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 29 and the first fall frost around October 15, giving about 167 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 29
- Typical first frost
- October 15
- Frost-free season
- 167 days
Frost dates in New Bedford
Last spring frost
- April 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 31Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 167 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 15 and returns around October 28.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New Bedford Muni Airport, 3 miles NNW 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 New Bedford
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, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, 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, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in New Bedford
All 5 of New Bedford's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from New Bedford Muni Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02740 | 7a | New Bedford Muni Airport, 3 mi NNW | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| 02744 | 7a | New Bedford Muni Airport, 3 mi NNW | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| 02745 | 7a | New Bedford Muni Airport, 3 mi NNW | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| 02746 | 7a | New Bedford Muni Airport, 3 mi NNW | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| 02747 | 7a | New Bedford Muni Airport, 3 mi NNW | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
New Bedford Muni Airport also supplies the frost dates for Fall River, so their planting calendars match New Bedford's.
Planting dates for popular crops in New Bedford
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 2 to 16 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 16 to Aug 20 |
| Cilantro | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Basil | Apr 9 to 23 | May 28 to Jun 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Jan 7 to Feb 18 | Apr 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 12 to Apr 9 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 23 to Aug 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 14 to 21 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 11 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 30 to Aug 27 |
| Peas | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 23 to Aug 6 |
| Spinach | Mar 18 to 25 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 29 to May 20 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 3 to 10 | Jul 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Fall River, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 29
- Taunton, MA zone 6b, last frost May 2
- Warwick, RI zone 7a, last frost Apr 11
- Pawtucket, RI zone 7a, last frost Apr 11
- Providence, RI zone 7a, last frost Apr 11
- Cranston, RI zone 6b, last frost Apr 11
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for New Bedford
Questions
When is the last frost in New Bedford?
Around April 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for New Bedford Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 15.
What planting zone is New Bedford 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 New Bedford?
Start seeds indoors April 2 to 16 and set plants out May 28 to June 11.
When is the first frost in New Bedford?
Around October 15 in a typical year, and before October 2 about 1 year in 10.