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
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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
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
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
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
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
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
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Framingham
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 25 to May 9 | Jul 7 to Aug 11 |
| Cilantro | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Jan 10 to Feb 21 | Apr 4 to 18 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 3 to 31 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 11 to May 2 | Jul 14 to Aug 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 14 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 2 to 16 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Peas | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Jul 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Mar 21 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 9 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | May 26 to Jun 2 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
Nearby cities
- Waltham, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 28
- Newton, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
- Cambridge, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Somerville, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
- Medford, MA zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Everett, MA zone 7a, last frost Apr 4
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.