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When to plant in Framingham, MA

USDA Zone 6b

Framingham, Massachusetts frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.

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

Station · NATICK · 8.1 km
Last spring frost
April 26
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 12
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
169 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for FraminghamA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Framingham: last spring frost around April 26, first fall frost around October 12, about 169 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

NATICK · 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 Framingham’s own odds, recorded at NATICK.

Frost-probability curves for FraminghamProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 12, giving about 169 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 19May 7Apr 26Sep 26Oct 4Oct 15
32°FMay 9Apr 26Apr 14Oct 1Oct 12Oct 26
28°FApr 24Apr 13Apr 2Oct 10Oct 24Nov 6

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
Rutabaga
July 6July 20
Fall sowin 1 days
Broccoli
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cabbage
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Carrot
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cauliflower
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Napa Cabbage
July 20August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Beet
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Collards
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Endive
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Escarole
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Kale
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Kohlrabi
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Peas
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Radicchio
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Swiss Chard
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Turnip
August 3August 31

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 Framingham, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 19 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.

NATICK
Primary
8 km · 55 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 26
FALL
Oct 12
MAYNARD 2
13 km · 63 m elevation
SPRING
May 2
FALL
Oct 6
WEST MEDWAY
19 km · 64 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 9

Framingham planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Framingham, MA?

Framingham's average last spring frost falls near April 26 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.

When is the first fall frost in Framingham, MA?

The first fall frost in Framingham typically arrives around October 12 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Framingham in?

Framingham 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 Framingham?

Framingham has about 169 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 12).

When should I plant tomatoes in Framingham?

For Framingham, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Framingham

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at NATICK, 8 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 Framingham, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00195175. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/framingham.
When to Plant in Framingham, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b — BlissGarden