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Frost dates for Nantucket Mem AP, MA

NOAA weather station USW00014756 at 45 ft elevation. Based on 23 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.

Last spring freeze (32°F)

Apr 13

median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years

Apr 19 30% risk · Apr 27 10% risk

First fall freeze (32°F)

Nov 8

median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years

Oct 25 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this

Freeze-free season

208 days

median length between last spring and first fall 32°F freeze

How to read these dates

Spring: a "10% risk" date means NOAA's 1991-2020 data put the chance of a 32°F or colder night after that date at 10%. The "30% risk" date is the convention used by some popular frost calculators (the Old Farmer's Almanac says it uses a 30% probability threshold, source). Fall: a "10%" date means a 10% chance the first freeze comes before it. Source: NOAA readme.

Full table for this station

ThresholdSpring: latest-freeze date at risk of 10% / 30% / 50%Fall: first-freeze date at chance of 10% / 50%
36°F (frost possible)May 11 / May 3 / Apr 28Oct 13 / Oct 26
32°F (freeze)Apr 27 / Apr 19 / Apr 13Oct 25 / Nov 8
28°F (hard freeze)Apr 12 / Apr 5 / Mar 31Nov 5 / Nov 23

Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date Apr 8 and 90% date Apr 2 (frost still likely after these early dates). Data quality: Representative: 10+ years of qualifying data, missing months filled from nearby stations. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00014756, read 2026-10-17.

Is Memorial Day safe here?

Many New England gardeners wait for Memorial Day (it falls between May 25 and May 31). At this station, NOAA's chance of a 32°F or colder night after May 25 is under 10%, and after May 31 is under 10%. Your own spot may differ. See all stations.

UMass Extension says that in many areas of Massachusetts the last frost date is usually around May 15 (read 2026-10-17).

Your planting schedule

Pick how cautious you want to be. The dates apply UNH Extension's per-crop rules (UNH fact sheet, read 2026-10-17) to this station's last-freeze date. UNH's sheet does not say which probability its "last frost" means, so you choose. These are planning dates, not instructions; follow your seed packet and the weather.

Last-frost reference date

Showing the schedule for the 2027 season (dates repeat yearly). Table below defaults to Typical; it updates when you choose.

CropStart seeds indoorsOutdoorsUNH Extension rule used
SpinachJan 25 – Mar 1Set out Mar 8 – Mar 29Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost.
BroccoliFeb 8 – Mar 8Set out Mar 22 – Apr 5Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
Brussels sproutFeb 8 – Mar 8Set out Mar 22 – Apr 5Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
CabbageFeb 8 – Feb 22Set out Mar 22Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KaleFeb 8 – Feb 22Set out Mar 22Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KohlrabiFeb 8 – Feb 22Set out Mar 22Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LeekJan 11 – Jan 25Set out Mar 22Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LettuceFeb 15 – Mar 1Set out Mar 22 – Mar 29Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost.
OnionJan 11 – Jan 25Set out Mar 22Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
Radish—Sow Mar 22 – Apr 5Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
Turnip—Sow Mar 22 – Apr 5Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
ParsleyJan 18 – Feb 1Set out Mar 29 – Apr 5Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost.
CauliflowerFeb 22 – Mar 8Set out Apr 5Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost.
Potato—Sow Apr 5 – Apr 12Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost.
Swiss chardFeb 22 – Mar 8Set out Apr 5; or sow Mar 22Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost; or sow seed 4 wk before last frost.
Bean—Sow on/after Apr 19Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CeleryJan 25 – Feb 8Set out on/after Apr 19Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost.
Parsnip—Sow on/after Apr 19Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CucumberMar 29 – Apr 12Set out Apr 26 – May 3
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Sweet potato—Plant slips Apr 26 – May 3Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost.
TomatoMar 1 – Mar 22Set out Apr 26 – May 3Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost.
BasilMar 8 – Mar 22Set out May 3Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
EggplantFeb 22 – Mar 15Set out May 3 – May 10Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost.
MelonApr 5 – Apr 12Set out May 3Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PepperFeb 22 – Mar 8Set out May 3Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PumpkinApr 5 – Apr 12Set out May 3
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Summer squashApr 5 – Apr 12Set out May 3
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Winter squashApr 5 – Apr 12Set out May 3
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
ZucchiniApr 5 – Apr 12Set out May 3
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Rutabaga—Sow Jun 15 – Jul 15Sow seed in garden mid-June to mid-July (fixed dates, not tied to frost).
Beet—Sow when soil reaches 45°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 45°F.
Carrot—Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F.
Corn—Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F.
Pea—Sow as soon as soil thawsSow seed in garden as soon as soil thaws.

Fall: when the garden ends

At this station the median first 32°F freeze is Nov 8; there is a 10% chance of one before Oct 25. Tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) can be damaged at 33-36°F (Almanac.com notes some plants are damaged in that range); the 36°F first-frost date here is median Oct 26 and 10% date Oct 13. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Nov 23), and that row covers can extend the season. UNH: Fall vegetable gardening, read 2026-10-17.

Your garden is not the weather station

This station sits at 45 ft. UNH Extension says first-freeze dates vary "even between relatively close locations, based on factors such as elevation" (source), and notes that gardeners who keep garden journals can use their own records. Gardeners on Reddit describe the same thing: elevation and cold spots change when they can plant (for example r/vermont). Treat these dates as a starting point.

Nearby stations