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

Planting zone for 01247 — North Adams, MA

ZIP code 01247 (North Adams, Berkshire County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 01247 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 10
First frostOct 4
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for North Adams, 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 North Adams, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station North Adams Harriman Airport, MA — 4 miles away, elevation 653 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 01247

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 01247 came on Apr 12 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Massachusetts

527 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Massachusetts, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 104

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 181

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 154

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 7

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 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 North Adams, MA.

Soil in North Adams, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 01247 is Peru — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Peru-Marlow association, 3 to 15 percent slopes, extremely stony.

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 01247; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Adams, MA

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,291base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation42.3 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 14 °F 32°14° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 JanFebruary: 1.97 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 MarApril: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: North Adams Harriman Airport, MA (4 mi away); precipitation: North Adams Harriman Airport, MA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

012205b
Adams, MA · 5 mi
013505b
Monroe Bridge, MA · 6 mi
013435b
Drury, MA · 7 mi
052615b
Pownal, VT · 8 mi
053525b
Stamford, VT · 8 mi
012565b
Savoy, MA · 8 mi
012675b
Williamstown, MA · 8 mi
013675b
Rowe, MA · 9 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 01247

What planting zone is ZIP code 01247?

ZIP code 01247 (North Adams, MA) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in North Adams, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 01247 is May 10; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, North Adams Harriman Airport station.

When is the first frost in North Adams, MA?

The median first fall frost near 01247 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 01247?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 01247 get?

About 42.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, North Adams Harriman Airport station).

How hot do summers get in North Adams, MA?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 01247 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Peru at the center of ZIP 01247: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in North Adams, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 01247 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in North Adams, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 01247 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).