When to plant butternut squash in Massachusetts

Butternut squash
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Boston
Apr 11–Apr 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 8
Last frost, Boston
Apr 4

Sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Leave fruit on the vine until the skin is hard and the stem starts to dry.

Butternut squash 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
BostonApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
WorcesterApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
SpringfieldMay 10 to May 24May 3
CambridgeApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
LowellMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
BrocktonApr 29 to May 13Apr 22
LynnMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
QuincyMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
New BedfordMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
Fall RiverMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
NewtonApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
LawrenceApr 20 to May 4Apr 13
SomervilleApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
FraminghamMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
HaverhillMay 8 to May 22May 1
MaldenApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
WalthamMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
BrooklineApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
TauntonApr 29 to May 13Apr 22
RevereApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
MedfordApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Weymouth TownMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
PeabodyMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
ChicopeeMay 10 to May 24May 3
MethuenApr 20 to May 4Apr 13
EverettApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Barnstable TownApr 23 to May 7Apr 16
AttleboroMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
ArlingtonMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
SalemMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
LeominsterMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
WoburnMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
BeverlyMay 11 to May 25May 4
PittsfieldMay 12 to May 26May 5
MarlboroughMay 9 to May 23May 2
FitchburgMay 8 to May 22May 1
Amherst TownMay 12 to May 26May 5
WestfieldMay 10 to May 24May 3
ChelseaApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
Braintree TownMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
HolyokeMay 10 to May 24May 3
WatertownApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
Randolph TownApr 25 to May 9Apr 18
LexingtonMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
Franklin TownMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
NeedhamMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
North Attleborough TownApr 29 to May 13Apr 22
NorwoodMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
NorthamptonMay 12 to May 26May 5
GloucesterMay 11 to May 25May 4
WellesleyMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
MelroseMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
Bridgewater TownMay 8 to May 22May 1
West Springfield TownMay 10 to May 24May 3
Agawam TownMay 10 to May 24May 3
SaugusMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
MiltonApr 25 to May 9Apr 18
DanversMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
MilfordMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
WakefieldMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
BelmontApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
BurlingtonMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
ReadingMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
DedhamMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
WilmingtonMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
StonehamMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
WinchesterMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
GardnerMay 9 to May 23May 2
MarbleheadMay 2 to May 16Apr 25

Questions

When should I plant butternut squash in Massachusetts?

In Boston, sow outdoors 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?

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

Butternut squash in other states

Frost dates for every city in Massachusetts