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When to plant in Nantucket, MA

USDA Zone 7b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Nantucket, Massachusetts — all computed from Nantucket's nearest NOAA weather station.

Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Nantucket, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.

Station · NANTUCKET MEM AP · 3.6 km
Last spring frost
April 13
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 8
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
209 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for NantucketA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Nantucket: last spring frost around April 13, first fall frost around November 8, about 209 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

NANTUCKET MEM AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Nantucket’s own odds, recorded at NANTUCKET MEM AP.

Frost-probability curves for NantucketProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 13 and the first fall frost around November 8, giving about 209 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 11Apr 28Apr 17Oct 13Oct 26Nov 9
32°FApr 27Apr 13Apr 2Oct 25Nov 8Nov 23
28°FApr 12Mar 31Mar 17Nov 5Nov 23Dec 6

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 19August 2
Fall sowin 14 days
Rutabaga
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 28 days
Broccoli
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Cabbage
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Carrot
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Cauliflower
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Napa Cabbage
August 16September 13

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Nantucket, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 44 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

NANTUCKET MEM AP
Primary
4 km · 14 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 13
FALL
Nov 8
EDGARTOWN
37 km · 9 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 17
FALL
Nov 3
W HARWICH
44 km · 5 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 13
FALL
Nov 3

Nantucket planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Nantucket, MA?

Plan for the last spring frost in Nantucket around April 13 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.

When is the first fall frost in Nantucket, MA?

Expect Nantucket's first fall frost near November 8 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Nantucket in?

Nantucket is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. In zone 7b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Nantucket?

There are roughly 209 frost-free days in Nantucket (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 13 to the first fall frost near November 8.

When should I plant tomatoes in Nantucket?

In Nantucket, start tomato seeds indoors around February 16–March 2, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 20 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Nantucket

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Nantucket’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at NANTUCKET MEM AP, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Nantucket, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014756. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/nantucket.
When to Plant in Nantucket, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 7b — BlissGarden