Quincy, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
Quincy is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 25 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 177 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 25
- Typical first frost
- October 22
- Frost-free season
- 177 days
Frost dates in Quincy
Last spring frost
- April 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 6Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 22Typical: 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 177 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 10 and returns around November 2.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Hingham, 4.9 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 Quincy
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, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, 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, collard greens, 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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, 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, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
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, st. augustinegrass, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Quincy
All 3 of Quincy's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Hingham, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 02169, and 7a in 02170, 02171.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02169 | 6b | Hingham, 4.9 mi ESE | Apr 25 | Oct 22 |
| 02170 | 7a | Hingham, 4.9 mi ESE | Apr 25 | Oct 22 |
| 02171 | 7a | Hingham, 4.9 mi ESE | Apr 25 | Oct 22 |
Hingham also supplies the frost dates for Weymouth Town, so their planting calendars match Quincy's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Quincy
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Cilantro | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Basil | Apr 4 to 18 | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
| Onions | Jan 3 to Feb 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 4 to 25 | Jul 30 to Aug 20 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 7 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Peas | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Spinach | Mar 14 to 21 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 25 to May 16 | — |
| Zinnias | May 28 to Jun 4 | Jun 25 to Jul 9 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 10 to Nov 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 10 to Oct 22 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Sep 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Weymouth Town, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
- Boston, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Cambridge, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Somerville, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Everett, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Revere, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Quincy
Questions
When is the last frost in Quincy?
Around April 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Hingham. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 8.
What planting zone is Quincy in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Quincy?
Start seeds indoors March 28 to April 11 and set plants out May 23 to June 6.
When is the first frost in Quincy?
Around October 22 in a typical year, and before October 6 about 1 year in 10.