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Taunton, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates

Taunton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 2 and the first fall frost around October 8, giving about 158 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6b
Typical last frost
May 2
Typical first frost
October 8
Frost-free season
158 days

Frost dates in Taunton

Last spring frost

  • April 19Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 25Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 25Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 158 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 18 and returns around October 22.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Taunton Muni Airport, 5.5 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 Taunton

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. 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, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, 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, 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

  5. 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, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. September

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Taunton

All 3 of Taunton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Taunton Muni Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
027186bTaunton Muni Airport, 1 mi NNWMay 2Oct 8
027676bTaunton Muni Airport, 4.7 mi SSEMay 2Oct 8
027806bTaunton Muni Airport, 5.5 mi ESEMay 2Oct 8

Planting dates for popular crops in Taunton

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 29 to Apr 12May 24 to Jun 7—
Strawberries—Mar 21 to Apr 4—
LettuceMar 7 to 21Apr 25 to May 9Jul 9 to Aug 13
CilantroMar 21 to Apr 4May 2 to 9—
BasilApr 5 to 19May 24 to 31—
Potatoes—Apr 22 to 29—
Garlic—Mar 21 to Apr 4Oct 8 to 22
OnionsJan 10 to Feb 21Apr 4 to 18—
CucumbersApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
PumpkinsApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
PeppersMar 8 to Apr 5May 24 to Jun 7—
Carrots—Apr 11 to May 2Jul 16 to Aug 6
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 11 to 18—
WatermelonsApr 19 to May 3May 24 to Jun 7—
Sweet Corn—May 2 to 16—
Green Beans—May 24 to Jun 7—
ZucchiniApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
BroccoliFeb 14 to Mar 7Apr 4 to 18Jul 23 to Aug 20
Peas—Mar 21 to Apr 4Jul 16 to 30
SpinachMar 21 to 28Apr 25 to May 9Jul 30 to Sep 3
Sunflowers—May 2 to 23—
ZinniasJun 1 to 8Jun 29 to Jul 13—
Tulips——Aug 27 to Oct 22
Daffodils——Aug 27 to Oct 8
Grass Seed—Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 27 to Sep 10

Nearby cities

Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Taunton

Questions

When is the last frost in Taunton?

Around May 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Taunton Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 16.

What planting zone is Taunton 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 Taunton?

Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.

When is the first frost in Taunton?

Around October 8 in a typical year, and before September 25 about 1 year in 10.