Pawtucket, Rhode Island planting calendar and frost dates
Pawtucket is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 11 and the first fall frost around October 30, giving about 199 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 11
- Typical first frost
- October 30
- Frost-free season
- 199 days
Frost dates in Pawtucket
Last spring frost
- April 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 11Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 23Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 12Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 199 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 1 and returns around November 9.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Providence T F Green Airport, 7.1 miles S of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Pawtucket shares this station with Providence, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Pawtucket
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Pawtucket
All 2 of Pawtucket's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Providence T F Green Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02860 | 7a | Providence T F Green Airport, 7.1 mi S | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| 02861 | 7a | Providence T F Green Airport, 11.6 mi SSW | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
Providence T F Green Airport also supplies the frost dates for Providence, Cranston and Warwick, so their planting calendars match Pawtucket's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Pawtucket
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 14 to 28 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 31 to Sep 4 |
| Cilantro | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Basil | Apr 1 to 15 | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 18 to 25 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 30 to Nov 13 |
| Onions | Dec 20 to Jan 31 | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 4 to Apr 1 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Aug 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 15 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 14 to Sep 11 |
| Peas | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 18 to May 9 | — |
| Zinnias | May 24 to 31 | Jun 21 to Jul 5 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 18 to Nov 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 18 to Oct 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
Nearby cities
- Providence, RI zone 7a, last frost Apr 11
- Cranston, RI zone 6b, last frost Apr 11
- Warwick, RI zone 7a, last frost Apr 11
- Taunton, MA zone 6b, last frost May 2
- Fall River, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 29
- Brockton, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 22
Planting in Rhode IslandAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Pawtucket
Questions
When is the last frost in Pawtucket?
Around April 11 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Providence T F Green Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 23.
What planting zone is Pawtucket in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Pawtucket?
Start seeds indoors March 25 to April 8 and set plants out May 20 to June 3.
When is the first frost in Pawtucket?
Around October 30 in a typical year, and before October 16 about 1 year in 10.