When to plant in Fitchburg, MA
USDA Zone 6aFitchburg, Massachusetts frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 6a, Fitchburg gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
FITCHBURG COOP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Fitchburg’s own odds, recorded at FITCHBURG COOP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 26 | May 12 | Apr 30 | Sep 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 11 |
| 32°F | May 14 | May 1 | Apr 19 | Sep 29 | Oct 9 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | May 1 | Apr 18 | Apr 5 | Oct 5 | Oct 21 | Nov 7 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Fitchburg, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 8 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Fitchburg planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fitchburg, MA?
Fitchburg's average last spring frost falls near May 1 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Fitchburg, MA?
In Fitchburg, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 9 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Fitchburg in?
Fitchburg is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Fitchburg?
Fitchburg has about 161 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (October 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Fitchburg?
For Fitchburg, sow tomatoes indoors about March 6–March 20 and move the seedlings out around May 8, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Fitchburg
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fitchburg’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Leominster · 10 km
- Gardner · 14 km
- Hudson · 31 km
- Nashua · 31 km
- Maynard · 35 km
- Marlborough · 36 km
- Worcester · 37 km
- Lowell · 41 km
Frost dates recorded at FITCHBURG COOP, 2 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Fitchburg, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00192807. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/fitchburg.