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

Planting zone for Newport, RI

Newport, RI is in USDA zone 7a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost November 13.

Newport 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 7
First frostNov 13
Growing season216 days

7a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Newport, RI…

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 Newport, RI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 13median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season216 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 28 and returns around November 25.

From the NOAA station Newport Rose, RI, elevation 16 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 Newport

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 18 – Oct 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 30 – Dec 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 13) 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 02841 came on Apr 6 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 7a in Rhode Island

465 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Rhode Island, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 56

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 95

Allegheny 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 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 160

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °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 pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 132

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 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 Newport, RI.

Soil in Newport, RI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02841 is Udorthents — sandy loam. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land.

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 02841; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Newport, RI

Summer high78 °Faverage high, August
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights89nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,713base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation47.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall26 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 32 °F 46°32° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 40 °F 55°40° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 49 °F 65°49° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 58 °F 72°58° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 64 °F 77°64° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 64 °F 78°64° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 59 °F 73°59° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 49 °F 63°49° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 40 °F 53°40° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 31 °F 44°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.03 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 4.0❄6 JanFebruary: 3.57 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 3.6❄9 FebMarch: 4.61 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 4.6❄5 MarApril: 4.73 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 4.7❄1 AprMay: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.94 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 NovDecember: 4.45 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 4.5❄5 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Newport

028407a
0 to 5 °F
028417a
0 to 5 °F

Rhode Island planting zones →

Questions about Newport

What planting zone is Newport, RI?

Newport, RI is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Newport, RI?

The median last spring frost is April 7 and the median first fall frost is November 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newport Rose station).

When can I plant a garden in Newport, RI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 24 – Mar 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 14, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Newport, RI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Newport, RI get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).