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

Planting zone for 02072 — Stoughton, MA

ZIP code 02072 (Stoughton, Norfolk County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 02072 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 25
First frostOct 9
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 Stoughton, 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 Stoughton, 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 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season167 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Norwood Mem Airport, MA — 6 miles away, elevation 49 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 02072

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 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 02072 came on Apr 3 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Stoughton, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02072 is Freetown — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter82%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Freetown muck, 0 to 1 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 02072; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stoughton, MA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights139nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,088base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Norwood Mem Airport, MA (6 mi away); precipitation: Norwood Mem Airport, MA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

023226b
Avon, MA · 3 mi
023576b
North Easton, MA · 4 mi
020216b
Canton, MA · 4 mi
020676b
Sharon, MA · 4 mi
023566b
North Easton, MA · 4 mi
023016b
Brockton, MA · 4 mi
020276b
Dedham, MA · 4 mi
021856b
Braintree, MA · 4 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02072

What planting zone is ZIP code 02072?

ZIP code 02072 (Stoughton, 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 Stoughton, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02072 is April 25; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norwood Mem Airport station.

When is the first frost in Stoughton, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02072 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 167 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02072?

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 02072 get?

About 43.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norwood Mem Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Stoughton, MA?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02072 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Freetown at the center of ZIP 02072: mucky peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Stoughton, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02072 came on Apr 3 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stoughton, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02072 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).