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
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: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
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
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
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, green onions, 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 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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Nashua
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 13 to Aug 17 |
| Cilantro | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Basil | Apr 4 to 18 | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Jan 8 to Feb 19 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 20 to Aug 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 27 to Aug 24 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 20 to Aug 3 |
| Spinach | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 3 to Sep 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30 to May 21 | — |
| Zinnias | May 29 to Jun 5 | Jun 26 to Jul 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 31 to Oct 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 31 to Oct 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
Nearby cities
- Lowell, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Manchester, NH zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Lawrence, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 13
- Haverhill, MA zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Waltham, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 28
- Medford, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
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.