Peabody, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
Peabody is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 3 and the first fall frost around October 9, giving about 157 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- May 3
- Typical first frost
- October 9
- Frost-free season
- 157 days
Frost dates in Peabody
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 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 24Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 157 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 21.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Middleton, 4.8 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 Peabody
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
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, 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
Planting dates for popular crops in Peabody
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 5 to 19 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Jul 10 to Aug 14 |
| Cilantro | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Apr 12 to 26 | May 31 to Jun 7 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Oct 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Jan 11 to Feb 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 3 to 17 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 3 to 17 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 15 to Apr 12 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12 to May 3 | Jul 17 to Aug 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Zucchini | May 3 to 17 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to 19 | Jul 24 to Aug 21 |
| Peas | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 17 to 31 |
| Spinach | Mar 22 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Jul 31 to Sep 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3 to 24 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 7 to 14 | Jul 5 to 19 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 28 to Oct 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 28 to Oct 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
Nearby cities
- Lynn, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Revere, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Malden, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Everett, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Medford, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Somerville, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Peabody
Questions
When is the last frost in Peabody?
Around May 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Middleton. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 20.
What planting zone is Peabody 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 Peabody?
Start seeds indoors April 5 to 19 and set plants out May 31 to June 14.
When is the first frost in Peabody?
Around October 9 in a typical year, and before September 29 about 1 year in 10.