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

Planting zone for 02537 — East Sandwich, MA

ZIP code 02537 (East Sandwich, Barnstable County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 26.

Where ZIP 02537 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 26
First frostOct 26
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for East Sandwich, 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 East Sandwich, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season180 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station E Sandwich, MA — 2 miles away, elevation 151 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 02537

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 02537 came on Apr 6 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6).

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 East Sandwich, MA.

Soil in East Sandwich, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02537 is Carver — slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Carver coarse sand, 8 to 15 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 02537; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Sandwich, MA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights122nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,396base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation53 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 47 °F 65°47° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 56 °F 71°56° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 63 °F 77°63° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 62 °F 76°62° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 55 °F 70°55° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 44 °F 61°44° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 JanFebruary: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 FebMarch: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 AprMay: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 5.28 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

025637a
Sandwich, MA · 4 mi
026487a
Marstons Mills, MA · 4 mi
026687a
West Barnstable, MA · 4 mi
026447a
Forestdale, MA · 5 mi
025617a
Sagamore, MA · 6 mi
025427a
Buzzards Bay, MA · 6 mi
025627a
Sagamore Beach, MA · 6 mi
026307a
Barnstable, MA · 7 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02537

What planting zone is ZIP code 02537?

ZIP code 02537 (East Sandwich, 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 East Sandwich, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02537 is April 26; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, E Sandwich station.

When is the first frost in East Sandwich, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02537 is October 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 180 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02537?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02537 get?

About 53 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, E Sandwich station).

How hot do summers get in East Sandwich, MA?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02537 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Carver at the center of ZIP 02537: slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

Did spring come early in East Sandwich, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02537 came on Apr 6 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Sandwich, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02537 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).