When to plant in Reading, MA
USDA Zone 6bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Reading, Massachusetts — all computed from Reading's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 6b, Reading gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average last spring frost in Reading is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
READING · 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 Reading’s own odds, recorded at READING.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 20 | May 7 | Apr 26 | Sep 26 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 8 | Apr 25 | Apr 13 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | Apr 11 | Mar 31 | Oct 14 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 |
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 Reading, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Reading planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Reading, MA?
Reading's average last spring frost falls near April 25 — 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 Reading, MA?
The first fall frost in Reading typically arrives around October 17 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Reading in?
Reading 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 Reading?
Reading has about 175 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 25) and first fall frost (October 17).
When should I plant tomatoes in Reading?
For Reading, sow tomatoes indoors about February 28–March 14 and move the seedlings out around May 2, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Reading
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Reading’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Wakefield · 5 km
- Lynnfield · 5 km
- Wilmington · 6 km
- Woburn · 7 km
- Stoneham · 7 km
- Burlington · 9 km
- Melrose · 10 km
- Winchester · 10 km
Frost dates recorded at READING, 2 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 Reading, MA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00196783. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/massachusetts/reading.