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When to plant daffodils in Boston: 14 October – 29 December

In Boston, daffodil: plant from 14 October to about 29 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Ricky's Flower Market (garden centre, 4 km) and Mahoney's Garden Center (garden centre, 7 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The date is about two weeks before the average daily temperature here falls below 0 °C (ten years of weather): an estimate, not the day the ground freezes, and a cold spell can freeze it earlier. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS, how the ground freezes (NRC Canada, CBD-26).

Daffodil in Boston: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -3.9 °C.

Planting14 October – 29 December
First autumn frost13 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -3.9 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring22 March
Daylight11:10 on 14 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:04

The same dates in Boston hold for Garlic, Tulip, Crocus and Hyacinth.

Daffodil in Boston: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant daffodils three times the bulb’s height deep (RHS): about 13–15 cm for large bulbs, 15–20 cm apart (University of Georgia Extension). The RHS advises planting them early in autumn, ideally in September in the UK, so do not leave them late: aim for the start of the window, 14 October.

In Boston the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 24 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 15–17 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Daffodils are long-lived: clumps slowly expand over the years (RHS). Leave the leaves for at least eight weeks after flowering — they feed next year’s flowers (University of Georgia Extension).

Squirrels avoid daffodils, so they can be planted among tulips to reduce losses (RHS). Daffodils are toxic to dogs, cats and horses; the bulbs are the most poisonous part, and a large amount can cause convulsions and heart rhythm problems (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, University of Georgia Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Daffodil in nearby cities

All the nearest cities on our list plant daffodil earlier than Boston; the closest date is in New Haven, 1 day earlier.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Providence67 km9 October – 30 December5 days earlier
Manchester (United States)77 km3 October – 27 November11 days earlier
Concord102 km1 October – 25 November13 days earlier
Portland, Maine159 km5 October – 26 November9 days earlier
New Haven193 km13 October – end of December1 day earlier
Albany224 km7 October – 30 November7 days earlier

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Boston

Planting stock goes into the ground from 14 October to about 29 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Boston OpenStreetMap lists 12 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 13 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Boston?

In Boston, daffodil: plant from 14 October to about 29 December. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Boston?

Last spring frost around 9 April, first autumn frost around 13 November.

Other crops in Boston, with their dates