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Nashua, New Hampshire planting calendar and frost dates

Nashua is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 12, giving about 165 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a
Typical last frost
April 30
Typical first frost
October 12
Frost-free season
165 days

Frost dates in Nashua

Last spring frost

  • April 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 30Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 12Typical: 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 17 and returns around October 24.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Nashua 2 Nnw, 1.8 miles N 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 Nashua

  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, 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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers

  5. 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, potatoes, 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, green onions, 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 Nashua

All 4 of Nashua's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Nashua 2 Nnw, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
030606aNashua 2 Nnw, 1.8 mi NApr 30Oct 12
030626aNashua 2 Nnw, 1.8 mi NApr 30Oct 12
030636aNashua 2 Nnw, 1.8 mi NApr 30Oct 12
030646aNashua 2 Nnw, 1.8 mi NApr 30Oct 12

Planting dates for popular crops in Nashua

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 28 to Apr 11May 23 to Jun 6—
Strawberries—Mar 19 to Apr 2—
LettuceMar 5 to 19Apr 23 to May 7Jul 13 to Aug 17
CilantroMar 19 to Apr 2Apr 30 to May 7—
BasilApr 4 to 18May 23 to 30—
Potatoes—Apr 24 to May 1—
Garlic—Mar 19 to Apr 2Oct 12 to 26
OnionsJan 8 to Feb 19Apr 2 to 16—
CucumbersApr 25 to May 9May 23 to Jun 6—
PumpkinsApr 25 to May 9May 23 to Jun 6—
PeppersMar 7 to Apr 4May 23 to Jun 6—
Carrots—Apr 9 to 30Jul 20 to Aug 10
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 9 to 16—
WatermelonsApr 18 to May 2May 23 to Jun 6—
Sweet Corn—Apr 30 to May 14—
Green Beans—May 23 to Jun 6—
ZucchiniApr 25 to May 9May 23 to Jun 6—
BroccoliFeb 12 to Mar 5Apr 2 to 16Jul 27 to Aug 24
Peas—Mar 19 to Apr 2Jul 20 to Aug 3
SpinachMar 19 to 26Apr 23 to May 7Aug 3 to Sep 7
Sunflowers—Apr 30 to May 21—
ZinniasMay 29 to Jun 5Jun 26 to Jul 10—
Tulips——Aug 31 to Oct 26
Daffodils——Aug 31 to Oct 12
Grass Seed—Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 31 to Sep 14

Nearby cities

Planting in New HampshireAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Nashua

Questions

When is the last frost in Nashua?

Around April 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Nashua 2 Nnw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.

What planting zone is Nashua in?

USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Nashua?

Start seeds indoors March 28 to April 11 and set plants out May 23 to June 6.

When is the first frost in Nashua?

Around October 12 in a typical year, and before September 30 about 1 year in 10.