Nantucket Mem Airport, MA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Nantucket Mem Airport garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Apr 13
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 8
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
209 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 6b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Apr 2 Apr 13 Apr 27
First fall frost Nov 23 Nov 8 Oct 25
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 31 · first Nov 23

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the NANTUCKET MEM AP station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Nantucket Mem Airport

Computed from Nantucket Mem Airport's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-6 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 16 – Mar 2 Apr 20 – Apr 27
🫑 Peppers Feb 2 – Feb 16 Apr 27 – May 4
🥬 Lettuce Mar 2 – Mar 16 Mar 16 – Mar 30 Mar 16 – Apr 13
🫛 Peas Mar 2 – Mar 16
🥕 Carrots Mar 23 – Apr 13
🥦 Broccoli Feb 23 – Mar 9 Mar 23 – Apr 6
🥬 Kale Mar 2 – Mar 16 Mar 16 – Mar 30 Mar 16 – Mar 30
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 16 – Mar 23 Apr 20 – Apr 27 Apr 20 – Apr 27
🥒 Zucchini Mar 16 – Mar 23 Apr 20 – Apr 27 Apr 20 – Apr 27
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 20 – Apr 27
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 20 – Apr 27
🌿 Basil Mar 2 – Mar 16 Apr 20 – Apr 27 Apr 27 – May 4
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 27 – Oct 25

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Nantucket Mem Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Nantucket Mem Airport

With roughly 209 frost-free days, Nantucket Mem Airport gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 8 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Nantucket Mem Airport, MA?

The average last spring frost in Nantucket Mem Airport is around Apr 13, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Nantucket Mem Airport, MA?

The average first fall frost in Nantucket Mem Airport arrives around Nov 8. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Nantucket Mem Airport?

About 209 frost-free days on average, from Apr 13 to Nov 8. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Nantucket Mem Airport in?

USDA zone 6b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.