Concord, NH Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Concord, New Hampshire.
Gardening in Concord
New Hampshire's capital is compact, historic, and surrounded by farmland. The Merrimack River provides valley fertility while the Granite State's self-reliance ethos drives food production.
Zone 5a with 146 frost-free days. The Merrimack Valley provides slightly moderated conditions compared to the surrounding hills. Rocky New England soil is the constant companion — raised beds are the pragmatic solution.
The State House golden dome overlooks a city where backyard gardens are as common as granite walls. The Concord Farmers Market anchors the local food scene.
What This Means for Concord Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Concord is around May 5, and the average first fall frost arrives around September 28. That gives you approximately 146 frost-free days to work with.
At 146 days, you're working with a compressed but productive window. Choose varieties by their days-to-maturity number — anything under 75 days is safe, 75-90 requires indoor starting, and 90+ is a calculated risk. The tradeoff: your cool, moderate summers are excellent for crops that heat-zone gardeners struggle with. Your lettuce doesn't bolt in June. Your peas produce for weeks longer. Cool-season crops are your superpower.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Concord area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Concord
With 146 frost-free days, Concord gardeners need to plan strategically — start warm-season crops indoors and choose short-season varieties. Cool-season crops are your strength, thriving in the moderate temperatures that define your growing window. Recommended starting points: kale, lettuce, peas, carrots, potatoes, radishes, garlic, and short-season tomatoes.
See the full New Hampshire planting guide for all 40 plants: New Hampshire Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Concord.
More About Zone 5A
Concord is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5A, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between -20°F to -15°F. View the full Zone 5A planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for New Hampshire: New Hampshire Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in New Hampshire
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Concord area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Concord (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Start everything possible indoors — your 146-day season doesn't leave room for a slow start. Direct sow only the fastest, hardiest crops (radishes, lettuce, peas) 3-4 weeks before last frost (May 5). Choose short-season varieties for warm crops. Enter your zip code for exact dates.