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

Planting zone for 02553 — Monument Beach, MA

ZIP code 02553 (Monument Beach, 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 02553 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 Monument Beach, 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 Monument Beach, 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 02553

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 02553 came on Apr 10 — 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Monument Beach, MA.

Soil in Monument Beach, MA

The center of ZIP 02553 is mapped as Water, saline: 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 02553; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Monument Beach, 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 12 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)
Precipitation51.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 29 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 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 48 °F 66°48° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 57 °F 75°57° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 64 °F 81°64° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 63 °F 80°63° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 55 °F 73°55° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 44 °F 63°44° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 35 °F 53°35° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.19 in precipitation, 12.9 in snowfall 4.2❄13 JanFebruary: 3.71 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 3.7❄9 FebMarch: 5.58 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 5.6❄7 MarApril: 4.56 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 4.6❄1 AprMay: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.45 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.5 NovDecember: 4.96 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 5.0❄6 Dec

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.

025597a
Pocasset, MA · 2 mi
025587a
Onset, MA · 3 mi
025327a
Buzzards Bay, MA · 3 mi
025347a
Cataumet, MA · 3 mi
025427a
Buzzards Bay, MA · 4 mi
025387a
East Wareham, MA · 5 mi
025717a
Wareham, MA · 5 mi
025567a
North Falmouth, MA · 5 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02553

What planting zone is ZIP code 02553?

ZIP code 02553 (Monument Beach, 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 Monument Beach, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02553 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 Monument Beach, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02553 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02553?

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 02553 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 Monument Beach, MA?

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

Did spring come early in Monument Beach, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02553 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Monument Beach, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02553 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 02553 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 02553 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.