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

Planting zone for 02712 — Chartley, MA

ZIP code 02712 (Chartley, Bristol County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 02712 is

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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 27
First frostOct 15
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Chartley, 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 Chartley, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season168 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Norton W, MA — 4 miles away, elevation 95 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 02712

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 02712 came on Apr 5 — 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 6b in Massachusetts

548 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 66

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 109

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 188

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 159

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 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Chartley, MA.

Soil in Chartley, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02712 is Paxton — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Paxton fine sandy loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes, very stony.

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 02712; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chartley, MA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights147nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,626base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall50 inper year; 48 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 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.41 in precipitation, 14.3 in snowfall 4.4❄14 JanFebruary: 3.79 in precipitation, 12.6 in snowfall 3.8❄13 FebMarch: 5.35 in precipitation, 10.1 in snowfall 5.3❄10 MarApril: 4.72 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 4.7❄2 AprMay: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 5.06 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.1 OctNovember: 4.46 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 4.5❄1 NovDecember: 5.20 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 5.2❄9 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

027666b
Norton, MA · 3 mi
027036b
Attleboro, MA · 4 mi
027636b
Attleboro Falls, MA · 4 mi
020486b
Mansfield, MA · 5 mi
027606b
North Attleboro, MA · 6 mi
027616b
North Attleboro, MA · 6 mi
027806b
Taunton, MA · 6 mi
023346b
Easton, MA · 7 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02712

What planting zone is ZIP code 02712?

ZIP code 02712 (Chartley, MA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Chartley, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02712 is April 27; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norton W station.

When is the first frost in Chartley, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02712 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 168 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02712?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02712 get?

About 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norton W station).

How hot do summers get in Chartley, MA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02712 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Paxton at the center of ZIP 02712: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Chartley, MA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02712 came on Apr 5 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 Chartley, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02712 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).