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

Planting zone for 02361 — Plymouth, MA

ZIP code 02361 (Plymouth, Plymouth County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 02361 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 15
First frostNov 1
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 Plymouth, 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 Plymouth, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Plymouth-Kingston, MA — within 1 mile, elevation 46 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 02361

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 02361 came on Apr 4 — 3 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).

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 Plymouth, MA.

Soil in Plymouth, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02361 is Merrimac — fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.12%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Merrimac fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 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 02361; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Plymouth, MA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights120nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,094base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall38 inper year; 27 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 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.79 in precipitation, 10.1 in snowfall 4.8❄10 JanFebruary: 4.24 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 4.2❄12 FebMarch: 5.80 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 5.8❄9 MarApril: 4.69 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.7❄1 AprMay: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.41 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.4 NovDecember: 4.93 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 4.9❄7 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

023317a
Duxbury, MA · <1 mi
023627a
Plymouth, MA · 2 mi
023647a
Kingston, MA · 2 mi
023327a
Duxbury, MA · 5 mi
023676b
Plympton, MA · 5 mi
023556b
North Carver, MA · 6 mi
023306b
Carver, MA · 7 mi
023607a
Plymouth, MA · 7 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Plymouth → · Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02361

What planting zone is ZIP code 02361?

ZIP code 02361 (Plymouth, 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 Plymouth, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02361 is April 15; after April 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Plymouth-Kingston station.

When is the first frost in Plymouth, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02361 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02361?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02361 get?

About 52.8 inches of precipitation a year and 38 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Plymouth-Kingston station).

How hot do summers get in Plymouth, MA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02361 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Merrimac at the center of ZIP 02361: fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Plymouth, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02361 came on Apr 4 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Plymouth, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02361 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 02361 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 02361 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.