Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Lexington, MA
Plan your garden around Lexington, MA's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
April 28
Safe May 12
Typical Apr 28
Risky Apr 13
First Fall Frost
October 10
Safe Sep 28
Typical Oct 10
Risky Oct 28
Growing Season
165 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 6b
A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.
Data: NOAA station BEDFORD HANSCOM FLD, MA US, 5.9 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | — | May 5 – May 12 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | — | May 5 – May 19 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | — | May 12 – May 19 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | May 5 – May 12 | May 5 – May 12 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 5 – May 19 | May 5 – May 12 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | May 5 – May 19 | May 5 – May 12 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | May 5 – May 19 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | — | May 12 – May 19 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | — | May 12 – May 19 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Apr 28 – May 12 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | Aug 15 – Aug 29 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | Aug 15 – Aug 29 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | Aug 1 – Aug 15 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | Aug 29 – Sep 5 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | Aug 8 – Aug 15 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | Aug 1 – Aug 8 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | Jul 18 – Aug 1 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | Aug 1 – Aug 15 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | — | Aug 29 – Sep 12 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | Aug 1 – Aug 15 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Sep 12 – Sep 26 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | May 12 – May 26 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Mar 17 – Mar 24 | — | May 5 – May 12 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | Aug 15 – Aug 29 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | — | Apr 28 – May 5 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | — | Apr 28 – May 5 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | May 5 – May 19 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | May 5 – May 19 | May 5 – May 12 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | May 5 – May 12 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | May 5 – May 19 | May 5 – May 12 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | May 5 – May 19 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | May 5 – May 19 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Lexington, MA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BEDFORD HANSCOM FLD, MA US station, the last spring frost in Lexington typically falls around April 28. A cautious gardener might wait until May 12 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 13 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Lexington, MA in fall?
The first fall frost in Lexington typically arrives around October 10. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 28; in milder years it can hold off until October 28.
How long is the growing season in Lexington, MA?
Lexington's average frost-free growing season is about 165 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 28) to the typical first fall frost (October 10).
What USDA hardiness zone is Lexington, MA in?
Lexington, MA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.