When to plant tulip bulbs in Massachusetts

Fall planting in Boston

Oct 26–Nov 30

Across Massachusetts the window opens between September 21 and October 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Boston: Oct 26–Nov 30
Last frost, Boston: Apr 4

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BostonOct 26–Nov 30

WorcesterOct 7–Nov 11

SpringfieldSep 24–Oct 29

CambridgeOct 9–Nov 13

LowellSep 26–Oct 31

BrocktonOct 5–Nov 9

LynnOct 6–Nov 10

QuincyOct 8–Nov 12

New BedfordOct 1–Nov 5

Fall RiverOct 1–Nov 5

NewtonOct 9–Nov 13

LawrenceOct 14–Nov 18

SomervilleOct 26–Nov 30

FraminghamSep 28–Nov 2

HaverhillSep 28–Nov 2

MaldenOct 26–Nov 30

WalthamSep 26–Oct 31

BrooklineOct 9–Nov 13

TauntonOct 5–Nov 9

RevereOct 26–Nov 30

MedfordOct 26–Nov 30

Weymouth TownOct 8–Nov 12

PeabodyOct 3–Nov 7

ChicopeeSep 24–Oct 29

MethuenOct 14–Nov 18

EverettOct 26–Nov 30

Barnstable TownOct 16–Nov 20

AttleboroOct 1–Nov 5

ArlingtonSep 26–Oct 31

SalemOct 6–Nov 10

All 69 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Massachusetts?

In Boston, fall planting from October 26 to November 30. Across Massachusetts the window opens between September 21 and October 26, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.