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

Planting zone for 02883 — Peace Dale, RI

ZIP code 02883 (Peace Dale, Washington County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 02883 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 12
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 Peace Dale, 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 Peace Dale, RI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Kingston 1 W, RI — 3 miles away, elevation 105 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 02883

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 02883 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).

Native plants for zone 7a in Rhode Island

465 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Rhode Island, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 56

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 95

Allegheny 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 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 160

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °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 pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 132

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 8

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 °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 Peace Dale, RI.

Soil in Peace Dale, RI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 02883 is Merrimac — fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.12%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Merrimac-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 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 02883; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Peace Dale, RI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights135nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,419base 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)
Precipitation51.6 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 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 FebMarch: 5.69 in precipitation 5.7 MarApril: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 AprMay: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kingston 1 W, RI (3 mi away); precipitation: Kingston 1 W, RI (3 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.

028797a
Wakefield, RI · 3 mi
028816b
Kingston, RI · 3 mi
028827a
Narragansett, RI · 3 mi
028747a
Saunderstown, RI · 4 mi
028926b
West Kingston, RI · 6 mi
028367a
Kenyon, RI · 6 mi
028756b
Shannock, RI · 7 mi
028357a
Jamestown, RI · 7 mi

Rhode Island planting zones →

Questions about 02883

What planting zone is ZIP code 02883?

ZIP code 02883 (Peace Dale, RI) 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 Peace Dale, RI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 02883 is May 1; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kingston 1 W station.

When is the first frost in Peace Dale, RI?

The median first fall frost near 02883 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 02883?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 02883 get?

About 51.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kingston 1 W station).

How hot do summers get in Peace Dale, RI?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 02883 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Merrimac at the center of ZIP 02883: fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Peace Dale, RI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 02883 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 Peace Dale, RI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 02883 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 02883 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 02883 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.