When to plant basil in Massachusetts

Basil
Plant out in Boston
Apr 11–Apr 25

Across Massachusetts the window opens between April 11 and May 12. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Boston
Feb 21–Mar 7
Plant out, Boston
Apr 11–Apr 25
Sow outdoors, Boston
Apr 11–Apr 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 12
Last frost, Boston
Apr 4

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
BostonApr 11–Apr 25
WorcesterApr 30–May 14
SpringfieldMay 10–May 24
CambridgeApr 26–May 10
LowellMay 7–May 21
BrocktonApr 29–May 13
LynnMay 2–May 16
QuincyMay 2–May 16
New BedfordMay 6–May 20
Fall RiverMay 6–May 20
NewtonApr 26–May 10
LawrenceApr 20–May 4
SomervilleApr 11–Apr 25
FraminghamMay 3–May 17
HaverhillMay 8–May 22
MaldenApr 11–Apr 25
WalthamMay 5–May 19
BrooklineApr 26–May 10
TauntonApr 29–May 13
RevereApr 11–Apr 25
MedfordApr 11–Apr 25
Weymouth TownMay 2–May 16
PeabodyMay 1–May 15
ChicopeeMay 10–May 24
MethuenApr 20–May 4
EverettApr 11–Apr 25
Barnstable TownApr 23–May 7
AttleboroMay 4–May 18
ArlingtonMay 5–May 19
SalemMay 2–May 16
All 69 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
BostonFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
WorcesterMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
SpringfieldMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
CambridgeMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
LowellMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
BrocktonMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
LynnMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
QuincyMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
New BedfordMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
Fall RiverMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
NewtonMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
LawrenceMar 2 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
SomervilleFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
FraminghamMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
HaverhillMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
MaldenFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
WalthamMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
BrooklineMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
TauntonMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
RevereFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
MedfordFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Weymouth TownMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
PeabodyMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
ChicopeeMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
MethuenMar 2 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
EverettFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Barnstable TownMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
AttleboroMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
ArlingtonMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
SalemMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
LeominsterMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
WoburnMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
BeverlyMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
PittsfieldMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
MarlboroughMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
FitchburgMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
Amherst TownMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
WestfieldMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
ChelseaFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Braintree TownMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
HolyokeMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
WatertownMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
Randolph TownMar 7 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 18
LexingtonMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
Franklin TownMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
NeedhamMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
North Attleborough TownMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
NorwoodMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
NorthamptonMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
GloucesterMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
WellesleyMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
MelroseMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
Bridgewater TownMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
West Springfield TownMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
Agawam TownMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
SaugusMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
MiltonMar 7 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 18
DanversMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
MilfordMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
WakefieldMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
BelmontMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
BurlingtonMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
ReadingMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
DedhamMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
WilmingtonMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
StonehamMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
WinchesterMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
GardnerMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
MarbleheadMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25

Questions

When should I plant basil in Massachusetts?

In Boston, plant out from April 11 to April 25. Across Massachusetts the window opens between April 11 and May 12, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Massachusetts

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Massachusetts