Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 02141 (Cambridge, 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, Boston Logan Intl AP, MA (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)218 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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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
52°F 50–55°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 Durham 2 SSW (52 mi), Durham 2 N (56 mi).
4-inch depth
53°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 51°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Durham 2 SSW (52 mi), Durham 2 N (56 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 02141 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 53°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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 9: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Mar 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 17 |
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) | Oct 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 17 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 28 | Nov 21 |
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 02141
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 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 7–21 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 7–21 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 7–21 | Mar 14–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 7–14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 7–14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 10–24 | Apr 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 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: Boston Logan Intl AP, MA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00014739), elevation 12 ft, 3.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica Plain, MA | 5 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| Reading, MA | 11 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 17 |
| Blue Hill Coop, MA | 11 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 02141
When is the last frost in 02141?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 02141 is April 4. For a more cautious planting date, use April 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 02141?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 02141?
ZIP 02141 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 02141 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
02142 Cambridge 02114 Boston 02143 Somerville 02139 Cambridge 02129 Boston 02133 Boston 02203 Boston 02108 Boston
Other ZIP codes in Middlesex County
01431 01432 01450 01460 01463 01464 01469 01474 01701 01702 01718 01719 01720 01721 01730 01731 01741 01742 01746 01748 01749 01752 01754 01760 All Middlesex 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.