When to plant in Brookline, MA
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Brookline, Massachusetts — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6b means Brookline sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Brookline is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
JAMAICA PLAIN · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Brookline’s own odds, recorded at JAMAICA PLAIN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 16 | May 2 | Apr 20 | Sep 30 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | May 3 | Apr 19 | Apr 6 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 21 | Apr 5 | Mar 25 | Oct 19 | Nov 3 | Nov 19 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Brookline, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Brookline planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Brookline, MA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Brookline around April 19 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Brookline, MA?
Expect Brookline's first fall frost near October 23 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Brookline in?
Brookline is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Brookline?
There are roughly 187 frost-free days in Brookline (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 19 to the first fall frost near October 23.
When should I plant tomatoes in Brookline?
In Brookline, start tomato seeds indoors around February 22–March 8, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 26 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Brookline
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Brookline’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at JAMAICA PLAIN, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Brookline, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00193890. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/brookline.