When to plant daffodil bulbs in Massachusetts

Fall planting in Boston

Oct 12–Nov 23

Across Massachusetts the window opens between September 7 and October 12. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Boston: Oct 12–Nov 23
Last frost, Boston: Apr 4

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Daffodils root best when they go in a few weeks before the ground freezes. Deer and rodents leave them alone.

Daffodil bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BostonOct 12–Nov 23

WorcesterSep 23–Nov 4

SpringfieldSep 10–Oct 22

CambridgeSep 25–Nov 6

LowellSep 12–Oct 24

BrocktonSep 21–Nov 2

LynnSep 22–Nov 3

QuincySep 24–Nov 5

New BedfordSep 17–Oct 29

Fall RiverSep 17–Oct 29

NewtonSep 25–Nov 6

LawrenceSep 30–Nov 11

SomervilleOct 12–Nov 23

FraminghamSep 14–Oct 26

HaverhillSep 14–Oct 26

MaldenOct 12–Nov 23

WalthamSep 12–Oct 24

BrooklineSep 25–Nov 6

TauntonSep 21–Nov 2

RevereOct 12–Nov 23

MedfordOct 12–Nov 23

Weymouth TownSep 24–Nov 5

PeabodySep 19–Oct 31

ChicopeeSep 10–Oct 22

MethuenSep 30–Nov 11

EverettOct 12–Nov 23

Barnstable TownOct 2–Nov 13

AttleboroSep 17–Oct 29

ArlingtonSep 12–Oct 24

SalemSep 22–Nov 3

All 69 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant daffodil bulbs in Massachusetts?

In Boston, fall planting from October 12 to November 23. Across Massachusetts the window opens between September 7 and October 12, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.