When to plant tomatoes in Massachusetts

Plant out 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.

Start indoors, Boston: Feb 7–Feb 21
Plant out, Boston: Apr 11–Apr 25
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 2
Last frost, Boston: Apr 4

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes 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

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

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Massachusetts?

In Boston, plant out 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?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Massachusetts

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Massachusetts