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

Planting zone for 01936 — Hamilton, MA

ZIP code 01936 (Hamilton, Essex County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 01936 is

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 frostMay 4
First frostOct 12
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hamilton, 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 Hamilton, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Beverly, MA — 4 miles away, elevation 66 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 01936

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 01936 came on Apr 7 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 Hamilton, MA.

Soil in Hamilton, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 01936 is Hinckley — moderately decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hinckley loamy sand, 15 to 25 percent slopes.

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 01936; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hamilton, MA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,334base 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)
Precipitation46 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Beverly, MA (4 mi away); precipitation: Beverly 2.8 Nw, MA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

019616b
Peabody, MA · <1 mi
019716b
Salem, MA · <1 mi
019826b
South Hamilton, MA · 1 mi
019846b
Wenham, MA · 2 mi
019836b
Topsfield, MA · 3 mi
019386b
Ipswich, MA · 4 mi
019156b
Beverly, MA · 5 mi
019296b
Essex, MA · 5 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 01936

What planting zone is ZIP code 01936?

ZIP code 01936 (Hamilton, 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 Hamilton, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 01936 is May 4; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beverly station.

When is the first frost in Hamilton, MA?

The median first fall frost near 01936 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 01936?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 01936 get?

About 46 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beverly 2.8 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Hamilton, MA?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 01936 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hinckley at the center of ZIP 01936: moderately decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

Did spring come early in Hamilton, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 01936 came on Apr 7 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hamilton, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 01936 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).