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

Planting zone for 02112 — Boston, MA

ZIP code 02112 (Boston, Suffolk County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost November 9.

Where ZIP 02112 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 4
First frostNov 9
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 Boston, 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 Boston, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season218 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 28 and returns around November 21.

From the NOAA station Boston Logan Intl Airport, MA — 2 miles away, elevation 13 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 02112

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 14 – Sep 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 26 – Nov 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 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 02112 came on Apr 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Boston, MA

The center of ZIP 02112 is mapped as Urban land, 0 to 15 percent slopes: 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 02112; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Boston, MA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,050base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall49 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 31 °F 46°31° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 41 °F 56°41° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 50 °F 67°50° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 60 °F 76°60° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 66 °F 82°66° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 65 °F 80°65° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 58 °F 73°58° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 48 °F 62°48° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 38 °F 52°38° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 29 °F 42°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.39 in precipitation, 14.3 in snowfall 3.4❄14 JanFebruary: 3.21 in precipitation, 14.4 in snowfall 3.2❄14 FebMarch: 4.17 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 4.2❄9 MarApril: 3.63 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.6❄2 AprMay: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.03 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.0 OctNovember: 3.66 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.7❄1 NovDecember: 4.30 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 4.3❄9 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

021967a
Boston, MA · <1 mi
022017a
Boston, MA · <1 mi
022117a
Boston, MA · <1 mi
022127a
Boston, MA · <1 mi
022417a
Boston, MA · <1 mi
022937a
Boston, MA · <1 mi
022977a
Boston, MA · <1 mi
021177a
Boston, MA · <1 mi

All 34 ZIP codes in Boston → · Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02112

What planting zone is ZIP code 02112?

ZIP code 02112 (Boston, 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 Boston, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02112 is April 4; after April 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boston Logan Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Boston, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02112 is November 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 218 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02112?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 7 – Feb 21 and set transplants outside around Apr 11 – Apr 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02112 get?

About 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 49 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boston Logan Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Boston, MA?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Boston, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02112 came on Apr 1 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Boston, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02112 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 02112 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 02112 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.