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When to plant in Dedham, MA

USDA Zone 6b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Dedham, Massachusetts — all computed from Dedham's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 6b, Dedham gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · NORWOOD MEM AP · 6.3 km
Last spring frost
April 25
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 9
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
167 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for DedhamA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Dedham: last spring frost around April 25, first fall frost around October 9, about 167 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

NORWOOD MEM AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Dedham’s own odds, recorded at NORWOOD MEM AP.

Frost-probability curves for DedhamProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 25 and the first fall frost around October 9, giving about 167 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 24May 8Apr 25Sep 17Sep 30Oct 12
32°FMay 11Apr 25Apr 9Sep 28Oct 9Oct 30
28°FApr 27Apr 8Mar 26Oct 6Oct 23Nov 9

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Broccoli
July 17July 31
Fall sowopen now
Cabbage
July 17July 31
Fall sowopen now
Carrot
July 17July 31
Fall sowopen now
Cauliflower
July 17July 31
Fall sowopen now
Napa Cabbage
July 17August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Beet
July 31August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Collards
July 31August 28
Fall sowin 12 days
Endive
July 31August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Escarole
July 31August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Fennel (Bulb)
July 31August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Kale
July 31August 28
Fall sowin 12 days
Kohlrabi
July 31August 28
Fall sowin 12 days
Peas
July 31August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Radicchio
July 31August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Swiss Chard
July 31August 14
Fall sowin 12 days
Turnip
July 31August 28
Fall sowin 26 days
Arugula
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Bok Choy
August 14August 28
Fall sowin 26 days
Chervil
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Cilantro
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Claytonia (Miner's Lettuce)
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Corn Salad (Mâche)
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)
August 14August 28
Fall sowin 26 days
Lettuce
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Mizuna
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Mustard Greens
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Radish
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum)
August 14August 28
Fall sowin 26 days
Spinach
August 14September 11
Fall sowin 26 days
Tatsoi
August 14September 11

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Dedham, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 7 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

NORWOOD MEM AP
Primary
6 km · 15 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 25
FALL
Oct 9
BLUE HILL COOP
7 km · 191 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 18
FALL
Oct 26
BLUE HILL
7 km · 191 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 19
FALL
Oct 24

Dedham planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Dedham, MA?

On average, the last spring frost in Dedham is around April 25 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Dedham, MA?

The first fall frost in Dedham typically arrives around October 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Dedham in?

Dedham 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 Dedham?

Dedham has about 167 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 25) and first fall frost (October 9).

When should I plant tomatoes in Dedham?

For Dedham, sow tomatoes indoors about February 28–March 14 and move the seedlings out around May 2, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Dedham

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Dedham’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at NORWOOD MEM AP, 6 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Dedham, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00054704. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/dedham.
When to Plant in Dedham, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b — BlissGarden