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

Planting zone for 01730 — Bedford, MA

ZIP code 01730 (Bedford, Middlesex County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 01730 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 27
First frostOct 13
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bedford, 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 Bedford, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Bedford, MA — within 1 mile, elevation 161 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 01730

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 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 01730 came on Apr 4 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 Massachusetts

548 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Massachusetts, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 109

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 188

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 159

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 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 8

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 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 Bedford, MA.

Soil in Bedford, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 01730 is Ridgebury — moderately decomposed plant material, poorly drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ridgebury fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 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 01730; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bedford, MA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights140nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,718base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 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)
Precipitation48.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall59 inper year; 68 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 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.75 in precipitation, 16.1 in snowfall 3.8❄16 JanFebruary: 3.37 in precipitation, 12.5 in snowfall 3.4❄13 FebMarch: 4.80 in precipitation, 12.9 in snowfall 4.8❄13 MarApril: 3.90 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.9❄2 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.85 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.8 OctNovember: 4.11 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 4.1❄2 NovDecember: 4.79 in precipitation, 13.2 in snowfall 4.8❄13 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

017316b
Hanscom Afb, MA · 2 mi
018656b
Nutting Lake, MA · 3 mi
018666b
Pinehurst, MA · 3 mi
018216b
Billerica, MA · 4 mi
018036b
Burlington, MA · 4 mi
018226b
Billerica, MA · 4 mi
024206b
Lexington, MA · 4 mi
018056b
Burlington, MA · 4 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 01730

What planting zone is ZIP code 01730?

ZIP code 01730 (Bedford, MA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Bedford, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 01730 is April 27; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bedford station.

When is the first frost in Bedford, MA?

The median first fall frost near 01730 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 01730?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 01730 get?

About 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 59 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bedford station).

How hot do summers get in Bedford, MA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 01730 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ridgebury at the center of ZIP 01730: moderately decomposed plant material, poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Bedford, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 01730 came on Apr 4 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bedford, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 01730 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 01730 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 01730 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.