When to plant in Medford, MA
USDA Zone 6bMedford, Massachusetts frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6b means Medford sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP · 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 Medford’s own odds, recorded at BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 1 | Apr 17 | Apr 6 | Oct 15 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Apr 17 | Apr 4 | Mar 25 | Oct 29 | Nov 9 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Mar 28 | Mar 15 | Nov 8 | Nov 21 | Dec 5 |
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 Medford, 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.
Medford planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Medford, MA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Medford around April 4 (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 Medford, MA?
In Medford, 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 Medford in?
Medford 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 Medford?
There are roughly 219 frost-free days in Medford (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 Medford?
In Medford, start tomato seeds indoors around February 7–February 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 11 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Medford
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Medford’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Somerville · 4 km
- Malden · 4 km
- Winchester · 4 km
- Arlington · 5 km
- Everett · 5 km
- Cambridge · 5 km
- Melrose · 5 km
- Stoneham · 6 km
Frost dates recorded at BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, 11 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 Medford, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014739. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/medford.