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

Planting zone for Providence, RI

Providence, RI is in USDA zones 6b to 7a across its 12 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 30.

Providence on the zone map

Outlined: its 9 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 codes12
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 30
Growing season199 days

6b 1 ZIP   7a 11 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 Providence, RI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season199 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Providence T F Green Airport, RI, elevation 59 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 Providence

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 02901 came on Apr 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 Rhode Island

452 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Rhode Island, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 94

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 156

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 125

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 7

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 creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Providence, RI.

Soil in Providence, RI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02901 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 02901; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Providence, RI

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,090base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 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
Snowfall37 inper year; 25 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 49 °F 69°49° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 64 °F 82°64° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 57 °F 75°57° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.96 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 4.0❄10 JanFebruary: 3.44 in precipitation, 10.5 in snowfall 3.4❄11 FebMarch: 4.90 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 4.9❄6 MarApril: 4.29 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.3❄1 AprMay: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.18 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.2 OctNovember: 4.27 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.3❄1 NovDecember: 4.65 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 4.7❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Providence T F Green Airport, RI (7 mi away); precipitation: Providence T F Green Airport, RI (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Providence

029017a
0 to 5 °F
029027a
0 to 5 °F
029037a
0 to 5 °F
029046b
−5 to 0 °F
029057a
0 to 5 °F
029067a
0 to 5 °F
029077a
0 to 5 °F
029087a
0 to 5 °F
029097a
0 to 5 °F
029127a
0 to 5 °F
029187a
0 to 5 °F
029407a
0 to 5 °F

Rhode Island planting zones →

Questions about Providence

What planting zone is Providence, RI?

Providence, RI 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 Providence, RI?

The median last spring frost is April 11 and the median first fall frost is October 30 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Providence T F Green Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Providence, RI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 28 – Mar 21; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Providence, RI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Providence, RI get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).