Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Medford, MA

The average first fall frost in Medford, MA is November 9, and the average last spring frost is April 4, giving a growing season of about 218 days.

Plan your garden around Medford, MA's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

April 4

Safe Apr 17 Typical Apr 4 Risky Mar 25

First Fall Frost

November 9

Safe Oct 29 Typical Nov 9 Risky Nov 22

Growing Season

218 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 6b

A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.

Data: NOAA station BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA US, 10.1 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Medford Compares

Medford's typical last spring frost (Apr 4) comes earlier than in 91% of the 183 Massachusetts cities we track.
Its 218-day growing season is 42 days longer than the Massachusetts median of 176 days.
Medford shares its NOAA weather station with Malden (3 km away), so their typical frost dates are the same.
July is the warmest month (average high 82°F) and January the coldest (average low 23°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Jan 24 – Feb 7	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Jan 24 – Feb 7	—	Apr 18 – Apr 25	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Mar 7 – Mar 14	Apr 11 – Apr 18	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Mar 14 – Mar 21	Apr 11 – Apr 25	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Mar 7 – Mar 14	Apr 11 – Apr 25	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	Apr 18 – Apr 25	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	Apr 18 – Apr 25	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Apr 4 – Apr 18	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Apr 4 – Apr 18	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Feb 21 – Mar 7	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	Sep 14 – Sep 28	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Feb 21 – Mar 7	—	Sep 14 – Sep 28	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	Aug 31 – Sep 14	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	Sep 28 – Oct 5	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	Mar 14 – Mar 21	Sep 7 – Sep 14	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	Mar 21 – Mar 28	Aug 31 – Sep 7	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	Aug 31 – Sep 14	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	Aug 17 – Aug 31	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	Aug 31 – Sep 14	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Feb 28 – Mar 14	—	Sep 28 – Oct 12	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	Aug 31 – Sep 14	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Jan 24 – Feb 7	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Oct 12 – Oct 26	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Apr 18 – May 2	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Feb 21 – Feb 28	—	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	Sep 14 – Sep 28	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	Mar 21 – Mar 28	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	Apr 4 – Apr 11	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	Apr 4 – Apr 11	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Mar 7 – Mar 14	Apr 11 – Apr 25	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Feb 21 – Mar 7	—	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Mar 7 – Mar 14	Apr 11 – Apr 25	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Medford, MA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA US station, the last spring frost in Medford typically falls around April 4. A cautious gardener might wait until April 17 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 25 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Medford, MA in fall?

The first fall frost in Medford typically arrives around November 9. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 29; in milder years it can hold off until November 22.

How long is the growing season in Medford, MA?

Medford's average frost-free growing season is about 218 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 4) to the typical first fall frost (November 9).

What USDA hardiness zone is Medford, MA in?

Medford, MA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.