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

Planting zone for 02557 — Oak Bluffs, MA

ZIP code 02557 (Oak Bluffs, Dukes County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 02557 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 frostMay 7
First frostOct 9
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 Oak Bluffs, 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 Oak Bluffs, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Vineyard Haven Airport, MA — 4 miles away, elevation 69 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 02557

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 02557 came on Apr 6 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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).

Soil in Oak Bluffs, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02557 is Freetown — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter82%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Freetown and Swansea mucks, coastal lowland, 0 to 1 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 02557; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Oak Bluffs, MA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,441base 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)
Precipitation50.4 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 23 °F 39°23° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 55 °F 73°55° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 36 °F 54°36° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JanFebruary: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 FebMarch: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vineyard Haven Airport, MA (4 mi away); precipitation: Vineyard Haven 0.8 Wsw, MA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

025687a
Vineyard Haven, MA · 3 mi
025397b
Edgartown, MA · 5 mi
025757a
West Tisbury, MA · 6 mi
025527b
Menemsha, MA · 6 mi
025417a
Falmouth, MA · 8 mi
025407a
Falmouth, MA · 9 mi
025367a
East Falmouth, MA · 10 mi
025747a
West Falmouth, MA · 12 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02557

What planting zone is ZIP code 02557?

ZIP code 02557 (Oak Bluffs, 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 Oak Bluffs, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02557 is May 7; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vineyard Haven Airport station.

When is the first frost in Oak Bluffs, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02557 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02557?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02557 get?

About 50.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vineyard Haven 0.8 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Oak Bluffs, MA?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02557 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Freetown at the center of ZIP 02557: mucky peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Oak Bluffs, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02557 came on Apr 6 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Oak Bluffs, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02557 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).