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

Planting zone for 02543 — Woods Hole, MA

ZIP code 02543 (Woods Hole, Barnstable County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost November 11.

Where ZIP 02543 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 11
First frostNov 11
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Woods Hole, 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 Woods Hole, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season213 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station Woods Hole Golf Club, MA — 7 miles away, elevation 79 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 02543

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Nov 11) 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 02543 came on Apr 4 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 7b in Massachusetts

563 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Massachusetts, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. 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 194

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 Woods Hole, MA.

Soil in Woods Hole, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02543 is Plymouth — moderately decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Plymouth-Montauk complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes, extremely bouldery.

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 02543; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Woods Hole, MA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,752base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation50.6 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 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 39 °F 55°39° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 48 °F 64°48° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 58 °F 72°58° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 64 °F 79°64° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 65 °F 79°65° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 59 °F 73°59° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 49 °F 63°49° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 40 °F 53°40° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 32 °F 45°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JanFebruary: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 FebMarch: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 MarApril: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 5.18 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Woods Hole Golf Club, MA (7 mi away); precipitation: West Tisbury 2.9 N, MA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

027137b
Cuttyhunk, MA · 6 mi
025757a
West Tisbury, MA · 9 mi
025687a
Vineyard Haven, MA · 9 mi
025357b
Chilmark, MA · 9 mi
025527b
Menemsha, MA · 10 mi
025417a
Falmouth, MA · 10 mi
025407a
Falmouth, MA · 11 mi
027487a
South Dartmouth, MA · 11 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02543

What planting zone is ZIP code 02543?

ZIP code 02543 (Woods Hole, MA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Woods Hole, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02543 is April 11; after April 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Woods Hole Golf Club station.

When is the first frost in Woods Hole, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02543 is November 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 213 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02543?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02543 get?

About 50.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, West Tisbury 2.9 N station).

How hot do summers get in Woods Hole, MA?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02543 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Plymouth at the center of ZIP 02543: moderately decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

Did spring come early in Woods Hole, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02543 came on Apr 4 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Woods Hole, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02543 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 02543 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 02543 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.