When to Plant Peppers in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Apr 18 – May 2 in Boston to May 19 – Jun 2 in Pittsfield. In Boston, it's Apr 18 – May 2. 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.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Massachusetts by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town | 6a | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | May 19 – Jun 2 |
| Attleboro | 6b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Barnstable Town | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Beverly | 6b | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | May 18 – Jun 1 |
| Boston | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Braintree Town | 6b | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Brockton | 6b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Cambridge | 6b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Chelsea | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Chicopee | 6a | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Everett | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Fall River | 7a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Fitchburg | 6a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Framingham | 6b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Haverhill | 6a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Holyoke | 6a | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Lawrence | 6b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Leominster | 6a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Lowell | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Lynn | 7a | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Malden | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Marlborough | 6b | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | May 16 – May 30 |
| Medford | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Methuen | 6b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| New Bedford | 7a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Newton | 6b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Peabody | 6b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Pittsfield | 5b | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | May 19 – Jun 2 |
| Quincy | 7a | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Revere | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Salem | 7a | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Somerville | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Springfield | 6a | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Taunton | 6b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Waltham | 6b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Watertown | 6b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Westfield | 6a | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Weymouth Town | 6b | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Woburn | 6b | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Worcester | 6a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 21 |
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 peppers.
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