Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 02650 (Barnstable 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, Chatham Muni AP, MA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)206 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 02650, 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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 02650 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring 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 4: 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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 13 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 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) | Oct 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 27 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 13 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 19 |
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 02650
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 13) and first fall frost (Nov 4). 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 16–Mar 2 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 23–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 16–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 16–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 2–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 2–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 20 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 9–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 16–23 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 16–23 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 16–23 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 16–23 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 16–23 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Apr 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 2–16 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (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: Chatham Muni AP, MA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00094624), elevation 68 ft, 1.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham, MA | 3 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 15 |
| W Harwich, MA | 8 mi | Apr 13 | Nov 3 |
| Hyannis Barnstable Muni AP, MA | 17 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 02650
When is the last frost in 02650?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 02650 is April 13. For a more cautious planting date, use April 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 02650?
The average first fall freeze is November 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 21.
What hardiness zone is 02650?
ZIP 02650 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 02650 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
02633 West Chatham 02659 02643 02653 Orleans 02645 East Harwich 02646 Harwich Port 02631 Brewster 02671 Northwest Harwich
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.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.