Westfield, MA planting zone & frost dates
Westfield is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost usually comes around May 3 and the first fall frost around October 8, for a growing season of about 158 days.
Planting calendar for Westfield
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 3) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 8 – Mar 22 Transplant outdoors: May 10 – May 17 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 Transplant outdoors: May 17 – May 24 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 Transplant outdoors: May 17 – May 24 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 Transplant outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 22 – Mar 8 Transplant outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 10 – May 17 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 10 – May 17 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 10 – May 17 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 10 – May 17 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 22 – Apr 5 Transplant outdoors: May 10 – May 17 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 13 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 8).
Useful for zone 6a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 20 | May 3 | May 17 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 25 | Oct 8 | Sep 26 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 17, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before September 26. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 21.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Westfield
- 01085 zone 6a
- 01086 zone 6a
Nearby cities
- West Springfield zone 6b, last frost May 3
- Chicopee zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Agawam zone 6b, last frost May 3
- Holyoke zone 6a, last frost May 3
- North Chicopee zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Springfield zone 6b, last frost May 3
- Easthampton zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Longmeadow zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
Questions
What growing zone is Westfield, MA?
Westfield is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average extreme winter low -10°F to -5°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Westfield?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Westfield is May 3. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 17.
When can I plant tomatoes in Westfield?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 10 – May 17. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Westfield Barnes Muni Ap, MA (USW00014775), 4.6 km (2.9 mi) from the city center, elevation 83 m, based on 22 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.