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

Planting zone for 02804 — Ashaway, RI

ZIP code 02804 (Ashaway, Washington County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 02804 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 frostApr 11
First frostOct 31
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 Ashaway, RI…

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 Ashaway, RI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season201 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Westerly State Airport, RI — 6 miles away, elevation 82 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 02804

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 02804 came on Apr 6 — about the same time as 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).

Soil in Ashaway, RI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02804 is Canton — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Canton and Charlton fine sandy loams, 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 02804; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ashaway, RI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,008base 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)
Precipitation42.8 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 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 32 °F 47°32° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 41 °F 57°41° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 50 °F 67°50° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 59 °F 75°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 66 °F 82°66° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 64 °F 81°64° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 57 °F 74°57° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 47 °F 64°47° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 38 °F 54°38° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 JanFebruary: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Westerly State Airport, RI (6 mi away); precipitation: Westerly State Airport, RI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

028087a
Bradford, RI · 2 mi
028336b
Hopkinton, RI · 4 mi
028946b
Wood River Junction, RI · 4 mi
028917a
Westerly, RI · 5 mi
028326b
Hope Valley, RI · 6 mi
028137a
Charlestown, RI · 6 mi
063596b
North Stonington, CT · 6 mi
063797a
Pawcatuck, CT · 6 mi

Rhode Island planting zones →

Questions about 02804

What planting zone is ZIP code 02804?

ZIP code 02804 (Ashaway, RI) 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 Ashaway, RI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02804 is April 11; after April 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Westerly State Airport station.

When is the first frost in Ashaway, RI?

The median first fall frost near 02804 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 201 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02804?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02804 get?

About 42.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Westerly State Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Ashaway, RI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02804 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Canton at the center of ZIP 02804: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Ashaway, RI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02804 came on Apr 6 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ashaway, RI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02804 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).