When to plant beets in Massachusetts

Sow outdoors in Boston

Mar 7–Apr 18

Across Massachusetts the window opens between March 7 and April 7. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Boston: Mar 7–Apr 18
Fall planting, Boston: Aug 31–Sep 14
Last frost, Boston: Apr 4

Sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Each beet seed is a cluster that gives several seedlings. Thin them to 3 inches apart.

Beets planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BostonMar 7–Apr 18

WorcesterMar 26–May 7

SpringfieldApr 5–May 17

CambridgeMar 22–May 3

LowellApr 2–May 14

BrocktonMar 25–May 6

LynnMar 28–May 9

QuincyMar 28–May 9

New BedfordApr 1–May 13

Fall RiverApr 1–May 13

NewtonMar 22–May 3

LawrenceMar 16–Apr 27

SomervilleMar 7–Apr 18

FraminghamMar 29–May 10

HaverhillApr 3–May 15

MaldenMar 7–Apr 18

WalthamMar 31–May 12

BrooklineMar 22–May 3

TauntonMar 25–May 6

RevereMar 7–Apr 18

MedfordMar 7–Apr 18

Weymouth TownMar 28–May 9

PeabodyMar 27–May 8

ChicopeeApr 5–May 17

MethuenMar 16–Apr 27

EverettMar 7–Apr 18

Barnstable TownMar 19–Apr 30

AttleboroMar 30–May 11

ArlingtonMar 31–May 12

SalemMar 28–May 9

All 69 cities

City	Sow outdoors	Fall planting	Last frost
Boston	Mar 7 to Apr 18	Aug 31 to Sep 14	Apr 4
Worcester	Mar 26 to May 7	Aug 12 to Aug 26	Apr 23
Springfield	Apr 5 to May 17	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 3
Cambridge	Mar 22 to May 3	Aug 14 to Aug 28	Apr 19
Lowell	Apr 2 to May 14	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 30
Brockton	Mar 25 to May 6	Aug 10 to Aug 24	Apr 22
Lynn	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 11 to Aug 25	Apr 25
Quincy	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 13 to Aug 27	Apr 25
New Bedford	Apr 1 to May 13	Aug 6 to Aug 20	Apr 29
Fall River	Apr 1 to May 13	Aug 6 to Aug 20	Apr 29
Newton	Mar 22 to May 3	Aug 14 to Aug 28	Apr 19
Lawrence	Mar 16 to Apr 27	Aug 19 to Sep 2	Apr 13
Somerville	Mar 7 to Apr 18	Aug 31 to Sep 14	Apr 4
Framingham	Mar 29 to May 10	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 26
Haverhill	Apr 3 to May 15	Aug 3 to Aug 17	May 1
Malden	Mar 7 to Apr 18	Aug 31 to Sep 14	Apr 4
Waltham	Mar 31 to May 12	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 28
Brookline	Mar 22 to May 3	Aug 14 to Aug 28	Apr 19
Taunton	Mar 25 to May 6	Aug 10 to Aug 24	Apr 22
Revere	Mar 7 to Apr 18	Aug 31 to Sep 14	Apr 4
Medford	Mar 7 to Apr 18	Aug 31 to Sep 14	Apr 4
Weymouth Town	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 13 to Aug 27	Apr 25
Peabody	Mar 27 to May 8	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 24
Chicopee	Apr 5 to May 17	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 3
Methuen	Mar 16 to Apr 27	Aug 19 to Sep 2	Apr 13
Everett	Mar 7 to Apr 18	Aug 31 to Sep 14	Apr 4
Barnstable Town	Mar 19 to Apr 30	Aug 21 to Sep 4	Apr 16
Attleboro	Mar 30 to May 11	Aug 6 to Aug 20	Apr 27
Arlington	Mar 31 to May 12	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 28
Salem	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 11 to Aug 25	Apr 25
Leominster	Apr 1 to May 13	Aug 2 to Aug 16	Apr 29
Woburn	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Beverly	Apr 6 to May 18	Aug 3 to Aug 17	May 4
Pittsfield	Apr 7 to May 19	Jul 27 to Aug 10	May 5
Marlborough	Apr 4 to May 16	Jul 28 to Aug 11	May 2
Fitchburg	Apr 3 to May 15	Jul 31 to Aug 14	May 1
Amherst Town	Apr 7 to May 19	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 5
Westfield	Apr 5 to May 17	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 3
Chelsea	Mar 7 to Apr 18	Aug 31 to Sep 14	Apr 4
Braintree Town	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 13 to Aug 27	Apr 25
Holyoke	Apr 5 to May 17	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 3
Watertown	Mar 22 to May 3	Aug 14 to Aug 28	Apr 19
Randolph Town	Mar 21 to May 2	Aug 17 to Aug 31	Apr 18
Lexington	Mar 31 to May 12	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 28
Franklin Town	Apr 2 to May 14	Jul 31 to Aug 14	Apr 30
Needham	Mar 29 to May 10	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 26
North Attleborough Town	Mar 25 to May 6	Aug 10 to Aug 24	Apr 22
Norwood	Mar 28 to May 9	Jul 31 to Aug 14	Apr 25
Northampton	Apr 7 to May 19	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 5
Gloucester	Apr 6 to May 18	Aug 3 to Aug 17	May 4
Wellesley	Mar 29 to May 10	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 26
Melrose	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Bridgewater Town	Apr 3 to May 15	Jul 31 to Aug 14	May 1
West Springfield Town	Apr 5 to May 17	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 3
Agawam Town	Apr 5 to May 17	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 3
Saugus	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Milton	Mar 21 to May 2	Aug 17 to Aug 31	Apr 18
Danvers	Mar 27 to May 8	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 24
Milford	Apr 2 to May 14	Jul 31 to Aug 14	Apr 30
Wakefield	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Belmont	Mar 22 to May 3	Aug 14 to Aug 28	Apr 19
Burlington	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Reading	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Dedham	Mar 28 to May 9	Jul 31 to Aug 14	Apr 25
Wilmington	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Stoneham	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Winchester	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 25
Gardner	Apr 4 to May 16	Aug 4 to Aug 18	May 2
Marblehead	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 11 to Aug 25	Apr 25

Questions

When should I plant beets in Massachusetts?

In Boston, sow outdoors from March 7 to April 18. Across Massachusetts the window opens between March 7 and April 7, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Massachusetts

Beets in other states

Frost dates for every city in Massachusetts