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

Planting zone for 01970 — Salem, MA

ZIP code 01970 (Salem, Essex County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 01970 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 25
First frostOct 20
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Salem, 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 Salem, 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 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Marblehead, MA — 2 miles away, elevation 85 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 01970

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 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 01970 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 7a in Massachusetts

561 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Massachusetts, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 67

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 110

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 192

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 165

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 9

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 °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 Salem, MA.

Soil in Salem, MA

The center of ZIP 01970 is mapped as Udorthents, smoothed: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 01970; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Salem, MA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,421base 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 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year; 39 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 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.75 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 3.8❄13 JanFebruary: 3.50 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 3.5❄9 FebMarch: 4.71 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 4.7❄8 MarApril: 4.30 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 4.3❄2 AprMay: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 5.00 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.0 OctNovember: 4.15 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.2❄1 NovDecember: 4.70 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 4.7❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Marblehead, MA (2 mi away); precipitation: Marblehead, MA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

019457a
Marblehead, MA · 2 mi
019156b
Beverly, MA · 3 mi
019656b
Prides Crossing, MA · 3 mi
019077a
Swampscott, MA · 4 mi
019846b
Wenham, MA · 5 mi
019606b
Peabody, MA · 5 mi
019236b
Danvers, MA · 5 mi
019027a
Lynn, MA · 5 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Salem → · Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 01970

What planting zone is ZIP code 01970?

ZIP code 01970 (Salem, MA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Salem, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 01970 is April 25; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marblehead station.

When is the first frost in Salem, MA?

The median first fall frost near 01970 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 01970?

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 01970 get?

About 48 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marblehead station).

How hot do summers get in Salem, MA?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Salem, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 01970 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 Salem, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 01970 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 01970 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 01970 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.