Newton, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
Newton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 23, giving about 185 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 19
- Typical first frost
- October 23
- Frost-free season
- 185 days
Frost dates in Newton
Last spring frost
- April 6Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 23Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 5Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 185 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 5 and returns around November 3.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jamaica Plain, 3.6 miles ESE 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 Newton
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, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, 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, 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: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, 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
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, 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, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, 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 Newton
Newton's 10 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 4 in 02467 to April 19 in 02468. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02458 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 4.8 mi SE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02459 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 3.6 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02460 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 5.5 mi SE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02461 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 4.3 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02462 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 7 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02464 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 4.9 mi E | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02465 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 6.2 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02466 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 7 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| 02467 | 6b | Boston Logan International Airport, 2.5 mi E | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
| 02468 | 6b | Jamaica Plain, 5.8 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Newton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 24 to Aug 28 |
| Cilantro | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Apr 2 to 16 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 23 to Nov 6 |
| Onions | Dec 28 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 5 to Apr 2 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Jul 31 to Aug 21 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 16 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 7 to Sep 4 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Jul 31 to Aug 14 |
| Spinach | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 14 to Sep 18 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 20 to May 11 | — |
| Zinnias | May 24 to 31 | Jun 21 to Jul 5 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 11 to Nov 6 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 11 to Oct 23 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 11 to 25 |
Nearby cities
- Waltham, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 28
- Cambridge, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Somerville, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Medford, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Everett, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Boston, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Newton
Questions
When is the last frost in Newton?
Around April 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Jamaica Plain. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 3.
What planting zone is Newton 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 Newton?
Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.
When is the first frost in Newton?
Around October 23 in a typical year, and before October 8 about 1 year in 10.