When to plant in North Adams, MA
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for North Adams, Massachusetts — all computed from North Adams's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5b, North Adams gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
NORTH ADAMS HARRIMAN AP · 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 North Adams’s own odds, recorded at NORTH ADAMS HARRIMAN AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 5 | May 22 | May 7 | Sep 12 | Sep 25 | Oct 7 |
| 32°F | May 25 | May 10 | Apr 27 | Sep 21 | Oct 4 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F | May 15 | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Oct 2 | Oct 17 | Nov 3 |
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 North Adams, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
North Adams planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in North Adams, MA?
North Adams's average last spring frost falls near May 10 — 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 North Adams, MA?
Expect North Adams's first fall frost near October 4 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is North Adams in?
North Adams is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in North Adams?
North Adams has about 147 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (October 4).
When should I plant tomatoes in North Adams?
For North Adams, sow tomatoes indoors about March 15–March 29 and move the seedlings out around May 17, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in North Adams
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to North Adams’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Pittsfield · 27 km
- Greenfield · 43 km
- Troy · 46 km
- Watervliet · 48 km
- Cohoes · 49 km
- Latham · 52 km
- Loudonville · 53 km
- Northampton · 53 km
Frost dates recorded at NORTH ADAMS HARRIMAN AP, 5 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 North Adams, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00054768. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/north-adams.