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Frost dates for Jamaica Plain, MA

NOAA weather station USC00193890 at 95 ft elevation. Based on 25 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.

Last spring freeze (32°F)

Apr 19

median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years

Apr 24 30% risk · May 3 10% risk

First fall freeze (32°F)

Oct 23

median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years

Oct 8 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this

Freeze-free season

185 days

median length between last spring and first fall 32°F freeze

How to read these dates

Spring: a "10% risk" date means NOAA's 1991-2020 data put the chance of a 32°F or colder night after that date at 10%. The "30% risk" date is the convention used by some popular frost calculators (the Old Farmer's Almanac says it uses a 30% probability threshold, source). Fall: a "10%" date means a 10% chance the first freeze comes before it. Source: NOAA readme.

Full table for this station

ThresholdSpring: latest-freeze date at risk of 10% / 30% / 50%Fall: first-freeze date at chance of 10% / 50%
36°F (frost possible)May 16 / May 7 / May 2Sep 30 / Oct 10
32°F (freeze)May 3 / Apr 24 / Apr 19Oct 8 / Oct 23
28°F (hard freeze)Apr 21 / Apr 12 / Apr 5Oct 19 / Nov 3

Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date Apr 13 and 90% date Apr 6 (frost still likely after these early dates). Data quality: Standard: 24+ years of qualifying data. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00193890, read 2026-10-17.

Is Memorial Day safe here?

Many New England gardeners wait for Memorial Day (it falls between May 25 and May 31). At this station, NOAA's chance of a 32°F or colder night after May 25 is under 10%, and after May 31 is under 10%. Your own spot may differ. See all stations.

UMass Extension says that in many areas of Massachusetts the last frost date is usually around May 15 (read 2026-10-17).

Your planting schedule

Pick how cautious you want to be. The dates apply UNH Extension's per-crop rules (UNH fact sheet, read 2026-10-17) to this station's last-freeze date. UNH's sheet does not say which probability its "last frost" means, so you choose. These are planning dates, not instructions; follow your seed packet and the weather.

Last-frost reference date

Showing the schedule for the 2027 season (dates repeat yearly). Table below defaults to Typical; it updates when you choose.

CropStart seeds indoorsOutdoorsUNH Extension rule used
SpinachJan 30 – Mar 6Set out Mar 13 – Apr 3Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost.
BroccoliFeb 13 – Mar 13Set out Mar 27 – Apr 10Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
Brussels sproutFeb 13 – Mar 13Set out Mar 27 – Apr 10Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
CabbageFeb 13 – Feb 27Set out Mar 27Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KaleFeb 13 – Feb 27Set out Mar 27Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KohlrabiFeb 13 – Feb 27Set out Mar 27Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LeekJan 16 – Jan 30Set out Mar 27Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LettuceFeb 20 – Mar 6Set out Mar 27 – Apr 3Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost.
OnionJan 16 – Jan 30Set out Mar 27Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
Radish—Sow Mar 27 – Apr 10Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
Turnip—Sow Mar 27 – Apr 10Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
ParsleyJan 23 – Feb 6Set out Apr 3 – Apr 10Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost.
CauliflowerFeb 27 – Mar 13Set out Apr 10Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost.
Potato—Sow Apr 10 – Apr 17Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost.
Swiss chardFeb 27 – Mar 13Set out Apr 10; or sow Mar 27Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost; or sow seed 4 wk before last frost.
Bean—Sow on/after Apr 24Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CeleryJan 30 – Feb 13Set out on/after Apr 24Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost.
Parsnip—Sow on/after Apr 24Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CucumberApr 3 – Apr 17Set out May 1 – May 8
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Sweet potato—Plant slips May 1 – May 8Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost.
TomatoMar 6 – Mar 27Set out May 1 – May 8Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost.
BasilMar 13 – Mar 27Set out May 8Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
EggplantFeb 27 – Mar 20Set out May 8 – May 15Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost.
MelonApr 10 – Apr 17Set out May 8Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PepperFeb 27 – Mar 13Set out May 8Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PumpkinApr 10 – Apr 17Set out May 8
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Summer squashApr 10 – Apr 17Set out May 8
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Winter squashApr 10 – Apr 17Set out May 8
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
ZucchiniApr 10 – Apr 17Set out May 8
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Rutabaga—Sow Jun 15 – Jul 15Sow seed in garden mid-June to mid-July (fixed dates, not tied to frost).
Beet—Sow when soil reaches 45°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 45°F.
Carrot—Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F.
Corn—Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F.
Pea—Sow as soon as soil thawsSow seed in garden as soon as soil thaws.

Fall: when the garden ends

At this station the median first 32°F freeze is Oct 23; there is a 10% chance of one before Oct 8. Tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) can be damaged at 33-36°F (Almanac.com notes some plants are damaged in that range); the 36°F first-frost date here is median Oct 10 and 10% date Sep 30. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Nov 3), and that row covers can extend the season. UNH: Fall vegetable gardening, read 2026-10-17.

Your garden is not the weather station

This station sits at 95 ft. UNH Extension says first-freeze dates vary "even between relatively close locations, based on factors such as elevation" (source), and notes that gardeners who keep garden journals can use their own records. Gardeners on Reddit describe the same thing: elevation and cold spots change when they can plant (for example r/vermont). Treat these dates as a starting point.

Nearby stations