Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 02532 — Buzzards Bay, MA

ZIP code 02532 (Buzzards Bay, Barnstable County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 02532 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 21

First frostOct 24

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 Buzzards Bay, 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 Buzzards Bay, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 11

Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station E Wareham, MA — 4 miles away, elevation 30 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 02532

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 02532 came on Apr 10 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

average
Apr 52026
Apr 10

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.

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 Buzzards Bay, MA.

Soil in Buzzards Bay, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02532 is Ipswich — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer

DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds

Organic matter64%high

Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ipswich - Pawcatuck - Matunuck complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes, very frequently flooded.

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 02532; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Buzzards Bay, MA

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July

Winter low22 °Faverage low, January

Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights116nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days2,713base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)

Precipitation51.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall37 inper year; 29 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

025537a

Monument Beach, MA · 3 mi

025587a

Onset, MA · 3 mi

025387a

East Wareham, MA · 3 mi

025617a

Sagamore, MA · 3 mi

025427a

Buzzards Bay, MA · 4 mi

025597a

Pocasset, MA · 4 mi

025627a

Sagamore Beach, MA · 4 mi

025637a

Sandwich, MA · 5 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Buzzards Bay → · Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02532

What planting zone is ZIP code 02532?

ZIP code 02532 (Buzzards Bay, 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 Buzzards Bay, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02532 is April 21; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, E Wareham station.

When is the first frost in Buzzards Bay, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02532 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02532?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02532 get?

About 51.1 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, E Wareham station).

How hot do summers get in Buzzards Bay, MA?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02532 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ipswich at the center of ZIP 02532: mucky peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Buzzards Bay, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02532 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Buzzards Bay, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02532 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 02532 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 02532 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.