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When to plant in Franklin Town, MA

USDA Zone 6b

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

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

Station · WEST MEDWAY · 5.7 km
Last spring frost
April 30
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 9
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
162 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for Franklin TownA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Franklin Town: last spring frost around April 30, first fall frost around October 9, about 162 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Franklin Town is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

WEST MEDWAY · 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 Franklin Town’s own odds, recorded at WEST MEDWAY.

Frost-probability curves for Franklin TownProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 9, giving about 162 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 25May 11Apr 28Sep 20Oct 1Oct 12
32°FMay 14Apr 30Apr 17Sep 29Oct 9Oct 23
28°FMay 1Apr 16Apr 2Oct 7Oct 22Nov 5

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 3July 17
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 Franklin Town, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 16 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.

WEST MEDWAY
Primary
6 km · 64 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 9
WOONSOCKET
13 km · 34 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 22
FALL
Oct 19
WALPOLE 2
16 km · 52 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 27
FALL
Oct 14

Franklin Town planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Franklin Town, MA?

Franklin Town's average last spring frost falls near April 30 — 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 Franklin Town, MA?

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

What hardiness zone is Franklin Town in?

Franklin Town 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 Franklin Town?

Franklin Town has about 162 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 9).

When should I plant tomatoes in Franklin Town?

For Franklin Town, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Franklin Town

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at WEST MEDWAY, 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 Franklin Town, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00199316. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/franklin-town.