When to plant in Haverhill, MA
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Haverhill, Massachusetts — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6a means Haverhill sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Haverhill is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
HAVERHILL · 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 Haverhill’s own odds, recorded at HAVERHILL.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 12 | Apr 30 | Sep 21 | Oct 3 | Oct 15 |
| 32°F | May 14 | May 1 | Apr 20 | Oct 1 | Oct 12 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | May 1 | Apr 19 | Apr 6 | Oct 7 | Oct 23 | 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 Haverhill, 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.
Haverhill planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Haverhill, MA?
Haverhill'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 Haverhill, MA?
Expect Haverhill's first fall frost near October 12 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Haverhill in?
Haverhill 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 Haverhill?
There are roughly 164 frost-free days in Haverhill (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 1 to the first fall frost near October 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Haverhill?
In Haverhill, start tomato seeds indoors around March 6–March 20, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Haverhill
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Haverhill’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Methuen · 9 km
- Lawrence · 11 km
- Amesbury · 13 km
- Newburyport · 17 km
- Derry · 20 km
- Londonderry · 24 km
- Lowell · 25 km
- Wilmington · 25 km
Frost dates recorded at HAVERHILL, 3 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 Haverhill, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00193505. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/haverhill.