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Frost dates for Norwood Mem AP, MA
NOAA weather station USW00054704 at 50 ft elevation. Based on 21 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.
Last spring freeze (32°F)
Apr 25
median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years
May 2 30% risk · May 11 10% risk
First fall freeze (32°F)
Oct 9
median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years
Sep 28 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this
Freeze-free season
167 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 24 / May 16 / May 8 | Sep 17 / Sep 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 11 / May 2 / Apr 25 | Sep 28 / Oct 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 27 / Apr 15 / Apr 8 | Oct 6 / Oct 23 |
Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date Apr 19 and 90% date Apr 9 (frost still likely after these early dates). Data quality: Representative: 10+ years of qualifying data, missing months filled from nearby stations. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00054704, 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 7 – Mar 14 | Set out Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost. |
| Broccoli | Feb 21 – Mar 21 | Set out Apr 4 – Apr 18 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Brussels sprout | Feb 21 – Mar 21 | Set out Apr 4 – Apr 18 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Set out Apr 4 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kale | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Set out Apr 4 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Set out Apr 4 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Leek | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Set out Apr 4 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Lettuce | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Set out Apr 4 – Apr 11 | Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Set out Apr 4 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Radish | — | Sow Apr 4 – Apr 18 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Turnip | — | Sow Apr 4 – Apr 18 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Parsley | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Set out Apr 11 – Apr 18 | Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost. |
| Cauliflower | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Set out Apr 18 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost. |
| Potato | — | Sow Apr 18 – Apr 25 | Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost. |
| Swiss chard | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Set out Apr 18; or sow Apr 4 | 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 2 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Celery | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Set out on/after May 2 | Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost. |
| Parsnip | — | Sow on/after May 2 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Cucumber | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Set out May 9 – May 16 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 9 – May 16 | Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Tomato | Mar 14 – Apr 4 | Set out May 9 – May 16 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Basil | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Set out May 16 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Mar 7 – Mar 28 | Set out May 16 – May 23 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost. |
| Melon | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | Set out May 16 | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pepper | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Set out May 16 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pumpkin | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | Set out May 16 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 18 – Apr 25 | Set out May 16 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 18 – Apr 25 | Set out May 16 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 18 – Apr 25 | Set out May 16 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 9; there is a 10% chance of one before Sep 28. 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 Sep 30 and 10% date Sep 17. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 23), 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 50 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
- Blue Hill, MA: 3 mi away, 625 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 19
- Blue Hill Coop, MA: 3 mi away, 625 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 18
- Walpole 2, MA: 4 mi away, 170 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 27
- Jamaica Plain, MA: 8 mi away, 95 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 19
- Natick, MA: 11 mi away, 180 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze Apr 26