When to plant in Peabody, MA
USDA Zone 6bPeabody, 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 Peabody sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Peabody is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BEVERLY MUNI 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 Peabody’s own odds, recorded at BEVERLY MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 6 | Apr 25 | Sep 24 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 6 | Apr 24 | Apr 11 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
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 Peabody, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 9 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.
Peabody planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Peabody, MA?
Peabody's average last spring frost falls near April 24 — 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 Peabody, MA?
Expect Peabody's first fall frost near October 17 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Peabody in?
Peabody 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 Peabody?
There are roughly 176 frost-free days in Peabody (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 24 to the first fall frost near October 17.
When should I plant tomatoes in Peabody?
In Peabody, start tomato seeds indoors around February 27–March 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Peabody
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Peabody’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at BEVERLY MUNI AP, 7 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 Peabody, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00054733. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/peabody.