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

Planting zone for Cambridge, MA

Cambridge, MA is in USDA zones 6b to 7a across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 23.

Cambridge on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zones6b–7a−5 to 5 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 23
Growing season185 days

6b 4 ZIPs   7a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Cambridge, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season185 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Jamaica Plain, MA, elevation 95 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 Cambridge

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 02238 came on Apr 1 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 6b in Massachusetts

548 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Massachusetts, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 188

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 159

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 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Cambridge, MA.

Soil in Cambridge, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02238 is Merrimac — fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.12%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Merrimac-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 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 02238; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cambridge, MA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,050base 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)
Precipitation49.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 31 °F 46°31° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 41 °F 56°41° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 50 °F 67°50° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 60 °F 76°60° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 66 °F 82°66° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 65 °F 80°65° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 58 °F 73°58° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 48 °F 62°48° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 38 °F 52°38° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 29 °F 42°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 FebMarch: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 4.97 in precipitation 5.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Boston Logan Intl Airport, MA (5 mi away); precipitation: Cambridge 0.9 Nnw, MA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Cambridge

021386b
−5 to 0 °F
021396b
−5 to 0 °F
021406b
−5 to 0 °F
021417a
0 to 5 °F
021427a
0 to 5 °F
022386b
−5 to 0 °F

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about Cambridge

What planting zone is Cambridge, MA?

Cambridge, MA is in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F; 7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Cambridge, MA?

The median last spring frost is April 19 and the median first fall frost is October 23 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jamaica Plain station).

When can I plant a garden in Cambridge, MA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 8 – Mar 29; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 26, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, MA get?

About 49.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).