When Is The Last Frost Before Spring Gardening Can Start In MA?

MASSACHUSETTS — Gardeners in Massachusetts who have the itch to start digging in the dirt should hold off a bit longer before scratching it.

The ground in the Greater Boston should be warm enough for planting by April 24, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac, while those in the Worcester area may want to wait until closer to May 6. The website has a handy tool to find the average date of the last frost by city and state, right down to the ZIP code.

This isn't a fail-safe date. It's based on historical climate data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information, and the probability of a frost after the average date is about 30 percent.

Almost anything that grows in the ground can be put in a pot. Vegetables in containers should be placed in sunny locations on decks, balconies and other open-air spaces. The same frost dates apply.

The Old Farmer's Almanac's extended weather forecast for Massachusetts says April will be a warm and rainy month with average temperatures 2 degrees above normal and precipitation totals 4.5 inches above normal.

The Old Farmer's Almanac, which has advised readers how and when to grow things since 1792, also has a 2025 planting guide calculator that allows Massachusetts gardeners to narrow down when they should put different vegetables in the ground.

Some plants to start with in Massachusetts are lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, and radishes.

Another good resource for gardeners is the University of Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. The scientists and specialists experience the same gardening challenges when it comes to weather conditions and pest management and can provide geographically specific advice to plant what food crops.