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Frost dates for Walpole 2, MA
NOAA weather station USC00198757 at 170 ft elevation. Based on 30 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.
Last spring freeze (32°F)
Apr 27
median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years
May 3 30% risk · May 11 10% risk
First fall freeze (32°F)
Oct 14
median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years
Oct 2 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this
Freeze-free season
169 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
| Threshold | Spring: latest-freeze date at risk of 10% / 30% / 50% | Fall: first-freeze date at chance of 10% / 50% |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible) | May 22 / May 14 / May 9 | Sep 23 / Oct 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 11 / May 3 / Apr 27 | Oct 2 / Oct 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 26 / Apr 19 / Apr 13 | Oct 11 / Oct 26 |
Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date Apr 22 and 90% date Apr 15 (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 USC00198757, 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.
Showing the schedule for the 2027 season (dates repeat yearly). Table below defaults to Typical; it updates when you choose.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Outdoors | UNH Extension rule used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinach | Feb 8 – Mar 15 | Set out Mar 22 – Apr 12 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost. |
| Broccoli | Feb 22 – Mar 22 | Set out Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Brussels sprout | Feb 22 – Mar 22 | Set out Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Set out Apr 5 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kale | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Set out Apr 5 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Set out Apr 5 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Leek | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Set out Apr 5 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Lettuce | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Set out Apr 5 – Apr 12 | Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Set out Apr 5 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Radish | — | Sow Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Turnip | — | Sow Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Parsley | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Set out Apr 12 – Apr 19 | Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost. |
| Cauliflower | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Set out Apr 19 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost. |
| Potato | — | Sow Apr 19 – Apr 26 | Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost. |
| Swiss chard | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Set out Apr 19; or sow Apr 5 | Start 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 May 3 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Celery | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Set out on/after May 3 | Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost. |
| Parsnip | — | Sow on/after May 3 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Set out May 10 – May 17 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 10 – May 17 | Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Tomato | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Set out May 10 – May 17 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Basil | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Set out May 17 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Mar 8 – Mar 29 | Set out May 17 – May 24 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost. |
| Melon | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | Set out May 17 | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pepper | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Set out May 17 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | Set out May 17 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 squash | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | Set out May 17 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 squash | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | Set out May 17 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. |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | Set out May 17 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 15 | Sow 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 thaws | Sow seed in garden as soon as soil thaws. |
Fall: when the garden ends
At this station the median first 32°F freeze is Oct 14; there is a 10% chance of one before Oct 2. 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 3 and 10% date Sep 23. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 26), 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 170 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
- Norwood Mem AP, MA: 4 mi away, 50 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 25
- Blue Hill, MA: 8 mi away, 625 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 19
- Blue Hill Coop, MA: 8 mi away, 625 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 18
- Natick, MA: 10 mi away, 180 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 26
- West Medway, MA: 10 mi away, 210 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 30