When to plant potatoes in Massachusetts

Sow outdoors in Boston

Mar 7–Mar 21

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–Mar 21
Last frost, Boston: Apr 4

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed potatoes once the soil reaches about 45°F. Shoots that come up before the last frost can be covered with soil.

Potatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BostonMar 7–Mar 21

WorcesterMar 26–Apr 9

SpringfieldApr 5–Apr 19

CambridgeMar 22–Apr 5

LowellApr 2–Apr 16

BrocktonMar 25–Apr 8

LynnMar 28–Apr 11

QuincyMar 28–Apr 11

New BedfordApr 1–Apr 15

Fall RiverApr 1–Apr 15

NewtonMar 22–Apr 5

LawrenceMar 16–Mar 30

SomervilleMar 7–Mar 21

FraminghamMar 29–Apr 12

HaverhillApr 3–Apr 17

MaldenMar 7–Mar 21

WalthamMar 31–Apr 14

BrooklineMar 22–Apr 5

TauntonMar 25–Apr 8

RevereMar 7–Mar 21

MedfordMar 7–Mar 21

Weymouth TownMar 28–Apr 11

PeabodyMar 27–Apr 10

ChicopeeApr 5–Apr 19

MethuenMar 16–Mar 30

EverettMar 7–Mar 21

Barnstable TownMar 19–Apr 2

AttleboroMar 30–Apr 13

ArlingtonMar 31–Apr 14

SalemMar 28–Apr 11

All 69 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant potatoes in Massachusetts?

In Boston, sow outdoors from March 7 to March 21. 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 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.