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

Planting zone for Concord, NH

Concord, NH is in USDA zone 5b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 3.

Concord 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 3
Growing season146 days

5b 4 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 Concord, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season146 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Concord Municipal Airport, NH, elevation 348 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 Concord

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 03301 came on Apr 15 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 5b in New Hampshire

475 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Hampshire, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 53

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 96

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °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 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 167

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 141

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 6

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Concord, NH.

Soil in Concord, NH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 03301 is Occum — very fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Occum very fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded.

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 03301; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Concord, NH

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,472base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 15 °F 35°15° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 5.02 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Concord Municipal Airport, NH (4 mi away); precipitation: Boscawen 2.2 Sse, NH (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Concord

033015b
−15 to −10 °F
033025b
−15 to −10 °F
033035b
−15 to −10 °F
033055b
−15 to −10 °F

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about Concord

What planting zone is Concord, NH?

Concord, NH is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Concord, NH?

The median last spring frost is May 8 and the median first fall frost is October 3 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Concord Municipal Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Concord, NH?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 27 – Apr 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Concord, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Concord, NH get?

About 46.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).