Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 02644 (Forestdale, 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, E Sandwich, MA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)180 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
57°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Kingston 1 NW (55 mi), Kingston 1 W (55 mi).
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Kingston 1 NW (55 mi), Kingston 1 W (55 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 02644 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 26: 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) | Apr 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 9 |
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 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 7 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 7 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 26 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 12 | Nov 5 |
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 02644
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 26). 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 1–15 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 15–Mar 1 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 15–Mar 1 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 1–15 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 1–15 | Apr 5–26 (transplant) Mar 29–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 26 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 15–29 | Apr 12–May 3 (transplant) Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 22–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 17–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 15–29 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 1–15 | May 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 15–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (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: E Sandwich, MA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00192372), elevation 150 ft, 2.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E Wareham, MA | 10 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 24 |
| Hyannis, MA | 11 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| Hyannis Barnstable Muni AP, MA | 12 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 02644
When is the last frost in 02644?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 02644 is April 26. For a more cautious planting date, use May 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 02644?
The average first fall freeze is October 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 11.
What hardiness zone is 02644?
ZIP 02644 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 02644 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
02542 02649 New Seabury 02563 Sandwich 02537 East Sandwich 02648 Barnstable Town 02559 Pocasset 02534 02635 Barnstable Town
Other ZIP codes in Barnstable County
02532 02534 02536 02537 02540 02542 02553 02556 02559 02561 02562 02563 02601 02630 02631 02632 02633 02635 02637 02638 02639 02641 02642 02643 All Barnstable County frost dates · Massachusetts frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.