Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 01096 (Hampshire County, 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, Worthington, MA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)144 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 01096, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lye Brook (47 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lye Brook (47 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 01096 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
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 29 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 13 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 26 |
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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 25 | Sep 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 13 | Oct 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 30 | Oct 14 |
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 01096
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Oct 2). 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 | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 4–18 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 4–18 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 22–May 13 (transplant) Apr 15–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (transplant) Jun 26–Jul 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–May 13 (transplant) Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (transplant) Jun 26–Jul 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 20 (transplant) Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 8–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 15–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 15–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 15–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 15–22 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 15–22 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 1–15 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 18–Mar 4 | May 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 1–15 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (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: Worthington, MA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00199972), elevation 1,285 ft, 8.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MA | 12 mi | May 5 | Oct 8 |
| Leverett #2, MA | 12 mi | May 2 | Oct 9 |
| E Hawley, MA | 12 mi | May 17 | Oct 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 01096
When is the last frost in 01096?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 01096 is May 13. For a more cautious planting date, use May 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 01096?
The average first fall freeze is October 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 20.
What hardiness zone is 01096?
ZIP 01096 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 01096 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
01039 01032 01053 Northampton 01012 01084 01093 01088 01062 Northampton
Other ZIP codes in Hampshire County
01002 01003 01007 01012 01026 01027 01032 01033 01035 01038 01039 01050 01053 01060 01062 01063 01066 01070 01073 01075 01082 01084 01088 01098 All Hampshire County frost dates · Massachusetts frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.