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When to plant in Malden, MA

USDA Zone 6b

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

Zone 6b means Malden sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.

Station · BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP · 8.6 km
Last spring frost
April 4
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 9
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
219 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for MaldenA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Malden: last spring frost around April 4, first fall frost around November 9, about 219 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

BOSTON LOGAN INTL 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 Malden’s own odds, recorded at BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP.

Frost-probability curves for MaldenProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 4 and the first fall frost around November 9, giving about 219 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 1Apr 17Apr 6Oct 15Oct 29Nov 11
32°FApr 17Apr 4Mar 25Oct 29Nov 9Nov 22
28°FApr 6Mar 28Mar 15Nov 8Nov 21Dec 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 sowin 1 days
Brussels Sprouts
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 15 days
Rutabaga
August 3August 17

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

Nearby weather stations

3 within 15 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.

BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP
Primary
9 km · 4 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 4
FALL
Nov 9
READING
12 km · 34 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 25
FALL
Oct 17
JAMAICA PLAIN
15 km · 29 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 19
FALL
Oct 23

Malden planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Malden, MA?

On average, the last spring frost in Malden is around April 4 (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 Malden, MA?

In Malden, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 9 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Malden in?

Malden 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 Malden?

There are roughly 219 frost-free days in Malden (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around April 4 to the first fall frost near November 9.

When should I plant tomatoes in Malden?

In Malden, start tomato seeds indoors around February 7–February 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 11 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Malden

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, 9 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 Malden, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014739. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/malden.
When to Plant in Malden, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b — BlissGarden