When to plant in Manchester, NH
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Manchester, New Hampshire — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, Manchester gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
MASSABESIC LAKE · 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 Manchester’s own odds, recorded at MASSABESIC LAKE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 24 | May 12 | Apr 30 | Sep 20 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 14 | Apr 30 | Apr 19 | Sep 30 | Oct 11 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | May 2 | Apr 17 | Apr 6 | Oct 8 | Oct 24 | Nov 8 |
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 Manchester, 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.
Manchester planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Manchester, NH?
Plan for the last spring frost in Manchester around April 30 (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 Manchester, NH?
In Manchester, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 11 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Manchester in?
Manchester 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 Manchester?
Manchester has about 164 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 11).
When should I plant tomatoes in Manchester?
For Manchester, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Manchester
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Manchester’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at MASSABESIC LAKE, 4 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 Manchester, NH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00275211. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-hampshire/manchester.