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

Planting zone for 01531 — New Braintree, MA

ZIP code 01531 (New Braintree, Worcester County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 01531 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 12
First frostOct 1
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for New Braintree, 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 New Braintree, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season141 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Barre Falls Dam, MA — 9 miles away, elevation 827 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 01531

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 01531 came on Apr 11 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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).

Soil in New Braintree, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 01531 is Woodbridge — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Woodbridge-Paxton 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 01531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Braintree, MA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights176nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,380base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.4 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 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 14 °F 38°14° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 22 °F 46°22° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 JanFebruary: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Barre Falls Dam, MA (9 mi away); precipitation: Hardwick, MA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

010316a
Gilbertville, MA · 3 mi
010946a
Wheelwright, MA · 3 mi
010746a
South Barre, MA · 4 mi
010686a
Oakham, MA · 4 mi
010376a
Hardwick, MA · 5 mi
015356a
North Brookfield, MA · 5 mi
015856a
West Brookfield, MA · 6 mi
010056a
Barre, MA · 6 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 01531

What planting zone is ZIP code 01531?

ZIP code 01531 (New Braintree, MA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in New Braintree, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 01531 is May 12; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Barre Falls Dam station.

When is the first frost in New Braintree, MA?

The median first fall frost near 01531 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 141 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 01531?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 01531 get?

About 49.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hardwick station).

How hot do summers get in New Braintree, MA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 01531 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Woodbridge at the center of ZIP 01531: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

Did spring come early in New Braintree, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 01531 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in New Braintree, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 01531 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 01531 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 01531 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.