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

Planting zone for 02718 — East Taunton, MA

ZIP code 02718 (East Taunton, Bristol County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 02718 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 2
First frostOct 8
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 East Taunton, 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 Taunton, MA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Taunton Municipal Airport, MA — within 1 mile, elevation 43 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 02718

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 02718 came on Apr 2 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 East Taunton, MA.

Soil in East Taunton, MA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02718 is Hinckley — 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: Hinckley loamy sand, 15 to 25 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 02718; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Taunton, MA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,744base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 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)
Precipitation47.6 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 19 °F 39°19° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Taunton Municipal Airport, MA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Taunton Municipal Airport, MA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

023486b
Lakeville, MA · 3 mi
023476b
Lakeville, MA · 3 mi
027796b
Berkley, MA · 4 mi
023446b
Middleboro, MA · 6 mi
023496b
Middleboro, MA · 6 mi
027676b
Raynham, MA · 6 mi
027027a
Assonet, MA · 6 mi
027806b
Taunton, MA · 6 mi

Massachusetts planting zones →

Questions about 02718

What planting zone is ZIP code 02718?

ZIP code 02718 (East Taunton, 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 East Taunton, MA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02718 is May 2; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Taunton Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in East Taunton, MA?

The median first fall frost near 02718 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 158 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02718?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02718 get?

About 47.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Taunton Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in East Taunton, MA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02718 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hinckley at the center of ZIP 02718: moderately decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

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

Spring leaf-out near 02718 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Taunton, MA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02718 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).