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
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, 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
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: 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
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, broccoli, 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, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, 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
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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Waltham
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Jul 11 to Aug 15 |
| Cilantro | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Basil | Apr 2 to 16 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Oct 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Jan 6 to Feb 17 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 5 to Apr 2 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 7 to 28 | Jul 18 to Aug 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 16 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 10 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 25 to Aug 22 |
| Peas | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Jul 18 to Aug 1 |
| Spinach | Mar 17 to 24 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 28 to May 19 | — |
| Zinnias | May 26 to Jun 2 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 29 to Oct 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 29 to Oct 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
Nearby cities
- Newton, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
- Cambridge, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Medford, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Somerville, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Everett, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Malden, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
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.