New Hampshire Planting Calendar

Frost dates, growing zones, and planting dates for New Hampshire gardeners.

Zone 3b Zone 4a Zone 4b Zone 5a Zone 5b Zone 6a

The Short Answer

New Hampshire spans USDA zones 3b through 6a, which means planting dates vary significantly across the state. Northern New Hampshire has an average last frost around May 20 - Jun 5, while Southern New Hampshire sees its last frost around May 1 - May 20. Use our homepage tool with your zip code for dates specific to your exact location.

New Hampshire Frost Dates by Region

Short growing season especially in north. Cold winters. Cool summers. Hardy varieties important.

Region	Zones	Last Frost (Spring)	First Frost (Fall)
Northern New Hampshire	3b, 4a, 4b	May 20 - Jun 5	Sep 10 - Sep 25
Southern New Hampshire	5a, 5b, 6a	May 1 - May 20	Sep 25 - Oct 10

Soil & Growing Conditions

Rocky, acidic New England soils. Glacial deposits. Granite bedrock. Raised beds essential in many areas.

What to Plant in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's short growing season rewards strategic planning. Cold-hardy crops are your strength, and warm-season crops need indoor starting. These are the best performers for New Hampshire's climate:

Top Picks for New Hampshire

Kale Garlic Potatoes Peas Carrots Lettuce Broccoli Beets Radishes Spinach Beans (Green/Snap)Cabbage Daffodils

Worth the Effort

With indoor starting and season extension, New Hampshire gardeners also grow excellent tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and sunflowers. The long summer daylight hours drive faster growth than you'd expect:

Tomatoes Peppers Cucumbers Squash (Summer)Basil Sunflowers Zinnias Corn (Sweet)

Browse all 100 plants — or enter your zip code for personalized planting dates.

Neighboring States

Gardeners near state borders may find useful information in neighboring state guides:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Frost dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages. Actual frost dates can vary significantly year to year. Zone data is from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026