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

Planting zone for 03079 — Salem, NH

ZIP code 03079 (Salem, Rockingham County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost October 28.

Where ZIP 03079 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 13
First frostOct 28
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Salem, NH…

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 Salem, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Lawrence, MA — 7 miles away, elevation 49 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 03079

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 13) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 03079 came on Apr 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 6a in New Hampshire

486 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Hampshire, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 53

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 99

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °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 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 171

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 142

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Salem, NH.

Soil in Salem, NH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 03079 is Freetown — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Freetown mucky peat, 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 03079; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Salem, NH

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights124nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,006base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.3 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 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 21 °F 37°21° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 40 °F 57°40° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 50 °F 68°50° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 64 °F 81°64° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 44 °F 62°44° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 35 °F 51°35° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 FebMarch: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 NovDecember: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lawrence, MA (7 mi away); precipitation: Lawrence, MA (7 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.

030736a
North Salem, NH · 3 mi
018446b
Methuen, MA · 4 mi
030876a
Windham, NH · 4 mi
038116a
Atkinson, NH · 4 mi
018326a
Haverhill, MA · 5 mi
018316b
Haverhill, MA · 5 mi
018416b
Lawrence, MA · 6 mi
018426b
Lawrence, MA · 6 mi

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about 03079

What planting zone is ZIP code 03079?

ZIP code 03079 (Salem, NH) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Salem, NH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 03079 is April 13; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lawrence station.

When is the first frost in Salem, NH?

The median first fall frost near 03079 is October 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 03079?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 16 – Mar 2 and set transplants outside around Apr 20 – May 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 03079 get?

About 49.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lawrence station).

How hot do summers get in Salem, NH?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 03079 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Freetown at the center of ZIP 03079: mucky peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Salem, NH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 03079 came on Apr 9 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Salem, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 03079 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).