Cambridge, MA Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Gardening in Cambridge
MIT and Harvard's city has an intellectual food culture that extends from laboratory research to community garden plots.
Zone 6b with 198 frost-free days. Charles River moderation and urban heat island keep Cambridge milder than suburban communities. Limited space demands creative vertical and container gardening.
Cambridge's intellectual density means your garden neighbor might have a PhD in plant biology. The community garden waiting lists are as competitive as the university admissions.
What This Means for Cambridge Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Cambridge is around April 10, and the average first fall frost arrives around October 25. That gives you approximately 198 frost-free days to work with.
A solid, workable season. Most standard vegetable varieties have enough time to mature, though the longest-season crops (like sweet potatoes at 90+ days or large watermelons at 85+ days) need to be started early and chosen carefully. Indoor seed starting isn't optional — it's how you buy the extra weeks that make the difference between a good harvest and a great one.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Cambridge area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Cambridge
Cambridge's 198-day season gives you plenty of time for most vegetables with good planning. Start warm-season crops indoors to maximize your window. Cool-season crops thrive in your spring and fall shoulder seasons. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, carrots, beans, broccoli, garlic, and basil.
See the full Massachusetts planting guide for all 40 plants: Massachusetts Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Cambridge.
More About Zone 6B
Cambridge is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between -5°F to 0°F. View the full Zone 6B planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Massachusetts: Massachusetts Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Massachusetts
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Cambridge area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Cambridge (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost (April 10) to maximize your 198-day window. Direct sow cold-hardy crops like peas and lettuce 3-4 weeks before last frost. Every week of early indoor starting matters at this season length. Enter your zip code for exact dates.