When to plant peppers in Massachusetts

Plant out in Boston

Apr 18–May 2

Across Massachusetts the window opens between April 18 and May 19. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Boston: Jan 24–Feb 7
Plant out, Boston: Apr 18–May 2
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 28
Last frost, Boston: Apr 4

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BostonApr 18–May 2

WorcesterMay 7–May 21

SpringfieldMay 17–May 31

CambridgeMay 3–May 17

LowellMay 14–May 28

BrocktonMay 6–May 20

LynnMay 9–May 23

QuincyMay 9–May 23

New BedfordMay 13–May 27

Fall RiverMay 13–May 27

NewtonMay 3–May 17

LawrenceApr 27–May 11

SomervilleApr 18–May 2

FraminghamMay 10–May 24

HaverhillMay 15–May 29

MaldenApr 18–May 2

WalthamMay 12–May 26

BrooklineMay 3–May 17

TauntonMay 6–May 20

RevereApr 18–May 2

MedfordApr 18–May 2

Weymouth TownMay 9–May 23

PeabodyMay 8–May 22

ChicopeeMay 17–May 31

MethuenApr 27–May 11

EverettApr 18–May 2

Barnstable TownApr 30–May 14

AttleboroMay 11–May 25

ArlingtonMay 12–May 26

SalemMay 9–May 23

All 69 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Massachusetts?

In Boston, plant out from April 18 to May 2. Across Massachusetts the window opens between April 18 and May 19, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Massachusetts

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Massachusetts