Frost Dates for Peterborough, NH 03458
Last spring frost May 14 · First fall frost September 28 · 137 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 03458 has about 6,870 people.
Moderate season: 137 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 28–May 31 (33 days). Fall frost risk spans September 19–October 7 (18 days).
Frost probability for 03458
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 31 | May 14 | April 28 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 19 | September 28 | October 7 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at MILFORD (23.8 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 137-day season in Peterborough
In Peterborough (137 frost-free days, a moderate season), 39 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 16 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 4 | 95 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 95 available after May 28. | May 29 |
| Pepper | Apr 2 | May 28–Jun 4 | 95 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 95 available after May 28. | Jun 3 |
| Lettuce | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 172 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 179 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 23. | Jul 27 |
| Cucumber | Apr 23 | May 28–Jun 4 | 109 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 109 available after May 28. | Jul 2 |
| Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 123 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 123 available after May 21. | Jul 9 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19–May 28 | 200 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 200 available after Mar 19. | Jul 18 |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 109 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 109 available after May 28. | Jul 7 |
| Onion | Feb 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 172 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 172 available after Apr 16. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 19–May 7 | 214 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Kale | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 186 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Broccoli | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 172 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 172 available after Apr 16. | Jul 3 |
| Cabbage | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 186 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 186 available after Apr 16. | Jul 27 |
| Radish | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 200 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 27 |
| Beets | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 200 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 30–May 7 | 158 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 158 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 28 | 242 | overwinter: Plant Sep 28 to Oct 19; harvest the following summer. | Oct 19 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 9–Jun 4 | 193 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 9; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 109 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 109 available after May 21. | Jun 10 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 30 | May 28–May 28 | 102 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 102 available after May 28. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 2 | May 7–May 21 | 151 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 151 available after May 7. | Jul 8 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 19 | Apr 30–Apr 30 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 214 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 186 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 186 available after Apr 16. | Jun 27 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 102 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 102 available after May 28. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 26 | May 28–Jun 4 | 95 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 95 available after May 28. | Jun 8 |
| Okra | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 116 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 116 available after May 21. | Jul 7 |
| Basil | Apr 9 | Jun 4–Jun 4 | 102 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 102 available after Jun 4. | Jul 2 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 16–May 7 | 172 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Parsley | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 137 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 137 available after May 21. | Jul 13 |
| Celery | Mar 5 | May 21–Jun 4 | 137 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 137 available after May 21. | May 24 |
| Scallions | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 186 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 186 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 16 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 200 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 16 | May 7–May 14 | 151 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Collards | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 186 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 95 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 95 available after May 28. | — |
| Chives | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 151 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 151 available after May 21. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 200 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Oregano | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 151 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 151 available after May 21. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 137 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 137 available after May 21. | — |
| Sage | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 151 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 151 available after May 21. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 151 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 151 available after May 21. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Cosmos | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 123 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 123 available after May 14. | Jul 2 |
| Lavender | Feb 19 | May 14–May 28 | 158 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 158 available after May 14. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 2 | May 14–May 21 | 123 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 12 |
| Melons | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 95 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 95 available after May 28. | — |
| Mint | — | May 14–May 28 | 158 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 158 available after May 14. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 123 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 123 available after May 14. | Jul 7 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 116 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 116 available after May 21. | Jun 27 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 102 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 102 available after May 28. | — |
| Sunflowers | — | May 14–May 28 | 123 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 123 available after May 14. | Jun 22 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 102 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 102 available after May 21. | Jun 3 |
| Watermelon | Apr 30 | May 21–May 28 | 102 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 102 available after May 21. | May 29 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 109 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 109 available after May 28. | Jul 7 |
| Zinnias | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 123 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 123 available after May 14. | Jul 2 |
Month by month in Peterborough
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 19), Lavender (Feb 19), Onion (Feb 19), Rosemary (Feb 19). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 5), Collards (Mar 5), Kale (Mar 5), Oregano (Mar 5), Parsley (Mar 5), Scallions (Mar 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 19), Beets (Mar 19), Dill (Mar 19), Peas (Mar 19), Radish (Mar 19), Spinach (Mar 19). |
| April | Start indoors: Calendula (Apr 2), Cauliflower (Apr 2), Marigolds (Apr 2), Pepper (Apr 2), Basil (Apr 9), Tomato (Apr 9), +15 more. Direct sow from: Kohlrabi (Apr 2), Cilantro (Apr 16), Turnip (Apr 16), Carrots (Apr 23), Potatoes (Apr 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 16), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 16), Cabbage (Apr 16), Collards (Apr 16), Kale (Apr 16), Lettuce (Apr 16), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 9). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 14), Beans (May 21), Pole Beans (May 21). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 7), Cauliflower (May 7), Cosmos (May 14), Lavender (May 14), Marigolds (May 14), Mint (May 14), +24 more. Last frost around May 14. Last sowing dates: Celery (May 24), Tomato (May 29), Watermelon (May 29). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 4). Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 3), Tomatillos (Jun 3), Eggplant (Jun 8), Corn (Jun 10), Sunflowers (Jun 22), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 27), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 2), Cosmos (Jul 2), Cucumber (Jul 2), Zinnias (Jul 2), Broccoli (Jul 3), Nasturtiums (Jul 7), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 2), Cilantro (Aug 2), Collards (Aug 6), Scallions (Aug 6), Bok Choy (Aug 7), Lettuce (Aug 7), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 28). First frost around September 28. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 19). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| 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 Peterborough, NH (ZIP 03458)?
The median last spring frost date for Peterborough, NH (ZIP code 03458) is around May 14. 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 28; one in ten it runs past May 31.
What is the first fall frost date in Peterborough, NH?
The median first fall frost date for Peterborough, NH is around September 28. 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 19 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Peterborough, NH?
The frost-free growing season in Peterborough is about 137 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 Peterborough (137 frost-free days, a moderate season), 39 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 16 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Peterborough, NH?
Peterborough, NH is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (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 Peterborough, NH?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 9 and plant out May 28 in Peterborough. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Peterborough?
Two: plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5.
When do I plant garlic in Peterborough?
Sep 28 to Oct 19; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Nearby and related
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- Frost dates for Keene, NH 03431 (19.5 mi)
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