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Waltham, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates

Waltham is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 10, giving about 165 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6b
Typical last frost
April 28
Typical first frost
October 10
Frost-free season
165 days

Frost dates in Waltham

Last spring frost

  • April 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 10Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 165 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 12 and returns around October 25.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bedford Hanscom Fld, 5.1 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 Waltham

  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: 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

  4. 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

  5. May

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, 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, 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, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, 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 Waltham

Waltham's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 19 in 02453 to April 28 in 02452. Every one of them is in zone 6b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
024516bBedford Hanscom Fld, 5.1 mi NNWApr 28Oct 10
024526bBedford Hanscom Fld, 6.2 mi NWApr 28Oct 10
024536bJamaica Plain, 7.5 mi SEApr 19Oct 23

Planting dates for popular crops in Waltham

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 26 to Apr 9May 21 to Jun 4—
Strawberries—Mar 17 to 31—
LettuceMar 3 to 17Apr 21 to May 5Jul 11 to Aug 15
CilantroMar 17 to 31Apr 28 to May 5—
BasilApr 2 to 16May 21 to 28—
Potatoes—Apr 20 to 27—
Garlic—Mar 17 to 31Oct 10 to 24
OnionsJan 6 to Feb 17Mar 31 to Apr 14—
CucumbersApr 23 to May 7May 21 to Jun 4—
PumpkinsApr 23 to May 7May 21 to Jun 4—
PeppersMar 5 to Apr 2May 21 to Jun 4—
Carrots—Apr 7 to 28Jul 18 to Aug 8
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 7 to 14—
WatermelonsApr 16 to 30May 21 to Jun 4—
Sweet Corn—Apr 28 to May 12—
Green Beans—May 21 to Jun 4—
ZucchiniApr 23 to May 7May 21 to Jun 4—
BroccoliFeb 10 to Mar 3Mar 31 to Apr 14Jul 25 to Aug 22
Peas—Mar 17 to 31Jul 18 to Aug 1
SpinachMar 17 to 24Apr 21 to May 5Aug 1 to Sep 5
Sunflowers—Apr 28 to May 19—
ZinniasMay 26 to Jun 2Jun 23 to Jul 7—
Tulips——Aug 29 to Oct 24
Daffodils——Aug 29 to Oct 10
Grass Seed—Mar 17 to 31Aug 29 to Sep 12

Nearby cities

Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Waltham

Questions

When is the last frost in Waltham?

Around April 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Bedford Hanscom Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 12.

What planting zone is Waltham 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 Waltham?

Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.

When is the first frost in Waltham?

Around October 10 in a typical year, and before September 28 about 1 year in 10.