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

Planting zone for 03226 — Center Harbor, NH

ZIP code 03226 (Center Harbor, Belknap County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 03226 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostApr 28
First frostOct 16
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Center Harbor, 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 Center Harbor, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Meredith 3 Nne, NH — 2 miles away, elevation 860 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 03226

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 03226 came on Apr 16 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 5b in New Hampshire

475 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Hampshire, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 96

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 167

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 141

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 6

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Center Harbor, NH.

Soil in Center Harbor, NH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 03226 is Becket — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Becket fine sandy loam, 8 to 15 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 03226; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Center Harbor, NH

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,394base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation47.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall80 inper year; 110 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 21 °F 34°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.34 in precipitation, 18.1 in snowfall 3.3❄18 JanFebruary: 2.84 in precipitation, 19.6 in snowfall 2.8❄20 FebMarch: 3.45 in precipitation, 15.4 in snowfall 3.5❄15 MarApril: 3.89 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 3.9❄4 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.92 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.9❄1 OctNovember: 3.96 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 4.0❄4 NovDecember: 4.23 in precipitation, 17.7 in snowfall 4.2❄18 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Meredith 3 Nne, NH (2 mi away); precipitation: Meredith 3 Nne, NH (2 mi away). 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.

032535b
Meredith, NH · 5 mi
032455b
Holderness, NH · 5 mi
032175b
Ashland, NH · 7 mi
032545b
Moultonborough, NH · 7 mi
032565b
New Hampton, NH · 8 mi
032275b
Center Sandwich, NH · 8 mi
032476a
Laconia, NH · 9 mi
032465b
Laconia, NH · 9 mi

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about 03226

What planting zone is ZIP code 03226?

ZIP code 03226 (Center Harbor, NH) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Center Harbor, NH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 03226 is April 28; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Meredith 3 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Center Harbor, NH?

The median first fall frost near 03226 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 03226?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 3 – Mar 17 and set transplants outside around May 5 – May 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 03226 get?

About 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 80 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Meredith 3 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Center Harbor, NH?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 03226 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 03226: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Center Harbor, NH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 03226 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Center Harbor, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 03226 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 03226 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 03226 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.