Frost dates for ZIP 02026 (Dedham, MA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Norwood Mem AP, MA (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)167 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Kingston 1 NW (55 mi), Kingston 1 W (56 mi), Durham 2 SSW (61 mi).
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Kingston 1 NW (55 mi), Kingston 1 W (56 mi), Durham 2 SSW (61 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 02026 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 11 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 30 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 8 | Sep 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 25 | Oct 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 8 | Oct 23 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 02026
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 9). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 4–25 (transplant) Mar 28–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 25 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–May 2 (transplant) Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 21–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 16–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 31–Feb 14 | May 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 14–28 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Norwood Mem AP, MA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00054704), elevation 50 ft, 3.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Hill Coop, MA | 4 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| Blue Hill, MA | 4 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| Jamaica Plain, MA | 5 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 02026
When is the last frost in 02026?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 02026 is April 25. For a more cautious planting date, use May 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 02026?
The average first fall freeze is October 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 28.
What hardiness zone is 02026?
ZIP 02026 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 02026 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
02132 Boston 02090 02136 Boston 02131 Boston 02492 Needham 02062 Norwood 02494 Needham 02459 Newton
Other ZIP codes in Norfolk County
02019 02021 02025 02030 02032 02035 02038 02052 02053 02054 02056 02062 02067 02071 02072 02081 02090 02093 02169 02170 02171 02184 02186 02188 All Norfolk County frost dates · Massachusetts frost dates
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