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

Planting zone for 02717 — East Freetown, MA

ZIP code 02717 (East Freetown, Bristol County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 02717 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 23
First frostOct 21
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 East Freetown, 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 Freetown, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season180 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Rochester, MA — 4 miles away, elevation 66 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 02717

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 02717 came on Apr 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 Freetown, MA.

Soil in East Freetown, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02717 is Swansea — coarse sand, very poorly drained.

TextureCoarse sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of unique importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Swansea coarse sand, 0 to 2 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 02717; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Freetown, MA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,755base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation53.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall31 inper year; 28 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 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 55 °F 74°55° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 44 °F 63°44° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.49 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 4.5❄11 JanFebruary: 3.83 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 3.8❄9 FebMarch: 5.73 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 5.7❄5 MarApril: 4.91 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.9❄1 AprMay: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.69 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.7 NovDecember: 5.25 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 5.3❄6 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

027147a
Dartmouth, MA · 4 mi
027686b
Raynham Center, MA · 4 mi
027027a
Assonet, MA · 4 mi
027457a
New Bedford, MA · 4 mi
023476b
Lakeville, MA · 5 mi
027437a
Acushnet, MA · 6 mi
023486b
Lakeville, MA · 6 mi
027207a
Fall River, MA · 7 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02717

What planting zone is ZIP code 02717?

ZIP code 02717 (East Freetown, 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 Freetown, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02717 is April 23; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rochester station.

When is the first frost in East Freetown, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02717 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 180 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02717?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02717 get?

About 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 31 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rochester station).

How hot do summers get in East Freetown, MA?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02717 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Swansea at the center of ZIP 02717: coarse sand, very poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 02717 came on Apr 2 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Freetown, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02717 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 02717 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 02717 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.