Somerville, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates
Somerville is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 4 and the first fall frost around November 9, giving about 218 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 4
- Typical first frost
- November 9
- Frost-free season
- 218 days
Frost dates in Somerville
Last spring frost
- March 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 4Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 22Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 218 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 March 28 and returns around November 21.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Boston Logan International Airport, 4.6 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. Somerville shares this station with Boston, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Somerville
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, 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
March
Start indoors: celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: 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: potatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips
September
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
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Somerville
All 3 of Somerville's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Boston Logan International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 02144, and 7a in 02143, 02145.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02143 | 7a | Boston Logan International Airport, 4.6 mi ESE | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
| 02144 | 6b | Boston Logan International Airport, 6.4 mi ESE | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
| 02145 | 7a | Boston Logan International Airport, 4.6 mi ESE | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
Boston Logan International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Boston, Cambridge, Lynn, Malden, Revere and Medford and 1 more cities, so their planting calendars match Somerville's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Somerville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Cilantro | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 11 | — |
| Basil | Apr 3 to 17 | May 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19 to 26 | Jul 20 to 27 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Nov 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Dec 13 to Jan 24 | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 6 to Apr 3 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 14 to Apr 4 | Aug 17 to Sep 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 17 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 24 to Sep 21 |
| Peas | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Spinach | Feb 21 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 19 to May 10 | — |
| Zinnias | May 25 to Jun 1 | Jun 22 to Jul 6 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
Nearby cities
- Cambridge, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Medford, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Everett, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Malden, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Boston, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Revere, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Somerville
Questions
When is the last frost in Somerville?
Around April 4 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Boston Logan International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 17.
What planting zone is Somerville in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (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 Somerville?
Start seeds indoors March 27 to April 10 and set plants out May 22 to June 5.
When is the first frost in Somerville?
Around November 9 in a typical year, and before October 29 about 1 year in 10.