Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Lowell, Massachusetts

Typical last spring frost April 30 (1 spring in 10 later than May 10). Typical first fall frost October 10 (1 fall in 10 earlier than September 30). Growing season about 164 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until April 19 and fades out by May 10. It is unlikely from then until September 30, and likely again after October 24. The dashed lines are the typical dates, April 30 and October 10.

Your season is too short for a separate fall planting of cabbage: sown late enough to be a fall crop, it wouldn't be ready before the typical first frost. Your spring planting is your harvest.

January

Nothing to start this month.

February

  • February 12 to March 12: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
  • February 26 to March 26: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 12 to April 2: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • March 19 to April 2: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • March 26 to April 9: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)

April

  • April 2 to 16: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • April 2 to 16: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • April 16 to 30: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • April 16 to 30: Cauliflower (plant out)
  • April 30: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)

May

  • May 14: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • May 14: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

June

  • June 4 to 18: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 14: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 18: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 19: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 23: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 24: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 28: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)

August

  • August 7: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 17: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 27: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 30: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

October

  • October 29 to November 5: Garlic (plant cloves)

November

Nothing to start this month.

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Lowell (station USC00194313), 2 miles from the center of Lowell. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/massachusetts/lowell/

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