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Framingham, Massachusetts planting calendar and frost dates

Framingham is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 2 and the first fall frost around October 6, giving about 156 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6b
Typical last frost
May 2
Typical first frost
October 6
Frost-free season
156 days

Frost dates in Framingham

Last spring frost

  • April 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 25Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 22Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 156 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 21 and returns around October 18.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Maynard 2, 7.6 miles N of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Framingham

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  5. May

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Framingham

Framingham's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 26 in 01702 to May 2 in 01701. Every one of them is in zone 6b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
017016bMaynard 2, 7.6 mi NMay 2Oct 6
017026bNatick, 4.7 mi EApr 26Oct 12

Planting dates for popular crops in Framingham

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 24 to Apr 7May 19 to Jun 2—
Strawberries—Mar 21 to Apr 4—
LettuceMar 7 to 21Apr 25 to May 9Jul 7 to Aug 11
CilantroMar 21 to Apr 4May 2 to 9—
BasilMar 31 to Apr 14May 19 to 26—
Potatoes—Apr 21 to 28—
Garlic—Mar 21 to Apr 4Oct 6 to 20
OnionsJan 10 to Feb 21Apr 4 to 18—
CucumbersApr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2—
PumpkinsApr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2—
PeppersMar 3 to 31May 19 to Jun 2—
Carrots—Apr 11 to May 2Jul 14 to Aug 4
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 6 to 13—
WatermelonsApr 14 to 28May 19 to Jun 2—
Sweet Corn—May 2 to 16—
Green Beans—May 19 to Jun 2—
ZucchiniApr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2—
BroccoliFeb 14 to Mar 7Apr 4 to 18Jul 21 to Aug 18
Peas—Mar 21 to Apr 4Jul 14 to 28
SpinachMar 21 to 28Apr 25 to May 9Jul 28 to Sep 1
Sunflowers—May 2 to 23—
ZinniasMay 26 to Jun 2Jun 23 to Jul 7—
Tulips——Aug 25 to Oct 20
Daffodils——Aug 25 to Oct 6
Grass Seed—Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 25 to Sep 8

Nearby cities

Planting in MassachusettsAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Framingham

Questions

When is the last frost in Framingham?

Around May 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Maynard 2. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 16.

What planting zone is Framingham in?

USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Framingham?

Start seeds indoors March 24 to April 7 and set plants out May 19 to June 2.

When is the first frost in Framingham?

Around October 6 in a typical year, and before September 25 about 1 year in 10.