Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Amherst, MA

Amherst, MA is in USDA zone 6a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 8.

Amherst on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 8
Growing season156 days

6a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Amherst, MA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Amherst, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Amherst, MA, elevation 144 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Amherst

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 8) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 01004 came on Apr 3 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6a in Massachusetts

544 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Massachusetts, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 66

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 109

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 186

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 157

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Amherst, MA.

Soil in Amherst, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 01004 is Amostown — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Amostown-Windsor silty substratum-Urban land complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 01004; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Amherst, MA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,598base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 54 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 15 °F 37°15° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.36 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 3.4❄8 JanFebruary: 2.93 in precipitation, 11 in snowfall 2.9❄11 FebMarch: 3.47 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 3.5❄7 MarApril: 3.79 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 SepOctober: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.38 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.4❄2 NovDecember: 3.89 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 3.9❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Amherst, MA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Amherst, MA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Amherst

010026a
−10 to −5 °F
010036a
−10 to −5 °F
010046a
−10 to −5 °F

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about Amherst

What planting zone is Amherst, MA?

Amherst, MA is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Amherst, MA?

The median last spring frost is May 5 and the median first fall frost is October 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Amherst station).

When can I plant a garden in Amherst, MA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 24 – Apr 14; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Amherst, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Amherst, MA get?

About 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).