Frost Dates for Newburyport, MA 01950
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost October 8 · 158 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6b
ZIP 01950 has about 18,700 people.
Moderate season: 158 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 19–May 17 (28 days). Fall frost risk spans September 23–October 23 (30 days).
Frost probability for 01950
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 17 | May 3 | April 19 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 23 | October 8 | October 23 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at HAVERHILL (15.3 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 158-day season in Newburyport
In Newburyport (158 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | 116 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 116 available after May 17. | Jun 8 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 116 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 116 available after May 17. | Jun 13 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 200 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 200 available after Apr 12. | Aug 6 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 17. | Jul 12 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 19 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 221 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 221 available after Mar 8. | Jul 28 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 193 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 193 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 5. | Jul 13 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 207 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 207 available after Apr 5. | Aug 6 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 6; both mature before Oct 15. | Sep 6 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 8 | 263 | overwinter: Plant Oct 8 to Oct 29; harvest the following summer. | Oct 29 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 214 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 29; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 130 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 130 available after May 10. | Jun 20 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 123 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 123 available after May 17. | May 26 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 172 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 172 available after Apr 26. | Jul 18 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 207 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 207 available after Apr 5. | Jul 7 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 123 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 123 available after May 17. | May 26 |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 116 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 116 available after May 17. | Jun 18 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 137 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 123 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 123 available after May 24. | Jul 12 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 158 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 158 available after May 10. | Jul 23 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 158 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 158 available after May 10. | Jun 3 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 26 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 172 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 116 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 116 available after May 17. | Jun 3 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 172 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 172 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 172 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 172 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 158 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 158 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 172 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 172 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 172 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 172 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 12 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 22 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 116 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 116 available after May 17. | Jun 3 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 137 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 137 available after May 10. | Jul 7 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 123 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 123 available after May 17. | Jun 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 144 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 144 available after May 3. | Jul 2 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 123 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 123 available after May 10. | Jun 13 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 123 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 123 available after May 10. | Jun 8 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 12 |
Month by month in Newburyport
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 8), Lavender (Feb 8), Onion (Feb 8), Rosemary (Feb 8), Celery (Feb 22), Collards (Feb 22), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), Sage (Mar 8), Swiss Chard (Mar 8), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 8), Beets (Mar 8), Dill (Mar 8), Peas (Mar 8), Radish (Mar 8), Spinach (Mar 8), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 29). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 5), Corn (Apr 5), Cosmos (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Okra (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 5), Turnip (Apr 5), Carrots (Apr 12), Potatoes (Apr 19). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 5), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 5), Cabbage (Apr 5), Collards (Apr 5), Kale (Apr 5), Lettuce (Apr 5), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 3), Beans (May 10), Pole Beans (May 10). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 3), Lavender (May 3), Marigolds (May 3), Mint (May 3), Nasturtiums (May 3), Zinnias (May 3), +23 more. Last frost around May 3. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 26), Pumpkin (May 26). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 3), Celery (Jun 3), Melons (Jun 3), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 5), Tomato (Jun 8), Watermelon (Jun 8), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 2), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 7), Pole Beans (Jul 7), Basil (Jul 12), Cosmos (Jul 12), Cucumber (Jul 12), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 6), Carrots (Aug 6), Beets (Aug 7), Dill (Aug 7), Swiss Chard (Aug 7), Calendula (Aug 12), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 5), Spinach (Sep 5), Radish (Sep 6). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 8). First frost around October 8. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 29). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Newburyport, MA (ZIP 01950)?
The median last spring frost date for Newburyport, MA (ZIP code 01950) is around May 3. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 19; one in ten it runs past May 17.
What is the first fall frost date in Newburyport, MA?
The median first fall frost date for Newburyport, MA is around October 8. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 23 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Newburyport, MA?
The frost-free growing season in Newburyport is about 158 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Newburyport (158 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Newburyport, MA?
Newburyport, MA is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Newburyport, MA?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Newburyport. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Newburyport?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15.
When do I plant garlic in Newburyport?
Oct 8 to Oct 29; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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