When to Plant Onions in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, the time to plant onions outside runs from Mar 7 – Mar 21 in Boston to Apr 7 – Apr 21 in Pittsfield. In Boston, it's Mar 7 – Mar 21. The average last spring frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Apr 4 in Boston, May 5 in Pittsfield), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Onions are cold-hardy. Plant sets or transplants early so they grow leaves before long summer days trigger bulbing.
- Start indoors: 10–12 weeks before the last frost.
- Plant outside: 2–4 weeks before the last frost.
Onions planting dates in Massachusetts by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town | 6a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Attleboro | 6b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Barnstable Town | 7a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Beverly | 6b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Boston | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Braintree Town | 6b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Brockton | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Cambridge | 6b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Chelsea | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Chicopee | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Everett | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Fall River | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Fitchburg | 6a | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Framingham | 6b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Haverhill | 6a | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Holyoke | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Lawrence | 6b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Leominster | 6a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Lowell | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Lynn | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Malden | 6b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Marlborough | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Medford | 6b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Methuen | 6b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| New Bedford | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Newton | 6b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Peabody | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Pittsfield | 5b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Quincy | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Revere | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Salem | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Somerville | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Springfield | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Taunton | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Waltham | 6b | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Watertown | 6b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Westfield | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Weymouth Town | 6b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Woburn | 6b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Worcester | 6a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Massachusetts, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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