When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Massachusetts
For most Massachusetts gardens, autumn spinach goes into the ground somewhere between mid-August and mid-September, counting back from a harvest you want…
Gardening in Massachusetts
Everything we have worked out for Massachusetts: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Boston, the last spring freeze runs April 1 to April 8 and the first fall freeze runs November 3 to November 14, USDA zones 5a-7b, 3,084 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Massachusetts: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Massachusetts?
Yes, spinach bolts early almost every year in Massachusetts, and daylight is the bigger culprit, not heat.
Will Massachusetts Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Yes, most Massachusetts ground can carry an asparagus bed through its full 10 to 15 year run, provided it drains.
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Massachusetts
Plant asparagus crowns in Massachusetts in early spring, timed close to the region’s last frost, which lands around April 1 to April 8 in the mildest…
Growing Sweet Corn in Massachusetts: Will It Ripen?
Short answer: yes, sweet corn can ripen in Massachusetts, but the growing window is tighter and later-starting than most gardeners assume.
Growing Asparagus in Massachusetts: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Massachusetts gardeners can absolutely commit a corner of the yard to asparagus for the long haul, but the decision hinges on one word: drainage.
When to Sow Pumpkins in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, pumpkin seeds go into the ground once soil temperature hits 65°F, not on the last frost date.
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Massachusetts?
In most of Massachusetts, a pumpkin flower needs to open by mid-to-late September to have any real shot at coloring up before frost.
When to Sow Parsnips in Massachusetts
Sow parsnip seed directly into the garden bed two to three weeks before the last spring frost.
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts delivers the frosty weeks parsnips need to turn starch into sugar, and the mean minimum temperature of the coldest month sits at…