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

Planting zone for 01331 — Athol, MA

ZIP code 01331 (Athol, Worcester County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 01331 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 frostApr 25
First frostOct 17
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 Athol, 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 Athol, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Tully Lake, MA — 5 miles away, elevation 679 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 01331

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 01331 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 Athol, MA.

Soil in Athol, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 01331 is Becket — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Becket-Skerry association, 0 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 01331; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Athol, MA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights159nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,887base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 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
Snowfall52 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 14 °F 33°14° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 15 °F 37°15° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.56 in precipitation, 14.3 in snowfall 3.6❄14 JanFebruary: 2.94 in precipitation, 12.5 in snowfall 2.9❄13 FebMarch: 3.90 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 3.9❄9 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 3.5❄3 AprMay: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.59 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.6❄1 NovDecember: 4.05 in precipitation, 11.8 in snowfall 4.0❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tully Lake, MA (5 mi away); precipitation: Tully Lake, MA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

014365b
Baldwinville, MA · 5 mi
013666a
Petersham, MA · 5 mi
013645b
Orange, MA · 6 mi
014685b
Templeton, MA · 6 mi
013685b
Royalston, MA · 7 mi
014385b
East Templeton, MA · 7 mi
014755b
Winchendon, MA · 9 mi
014405b
Gardner, MA · 10 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 01331

What planting zone is ZIP code 01331?

ZIP code 01331 (Athol, 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 Athol, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 01331 is April 25; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tully Lake station.

When is the first frost in Athol, MA?

The median first fall frost near 01331 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 01331?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 01331 get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 52 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tully Lake station).

How hot do summers get in Athol, MA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 01331 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 01331: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Athol, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 01331 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 Athol, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 01331 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).