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

Planting zone for 03234 — Epsom, NH

ZIP code 03234 (Epsom, Merrimack County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 03234 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 frostMay 8
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Epsom, 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 Epsom, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season146 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Concord Municipal Airport, NH — 7 miles away, elevation 348 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 03234

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 03234 came on Apr 15 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 Epsom, NH.

Soil in Epsom, NH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 03234 is Chatfield — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Chatfield-Montauk-Hollis complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes, very rocky.

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 03234; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Epsom, NH

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,472base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 15 °F 35°15° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Concord Municipal Airport, NH (7 mi away); precipitation: Chichester 2.7 Ssw, NH (3 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.

032756a
Suncook, NH · 4 mi
032585b
Chichester, NH · 5 mi
032635b
Pittsfield, NH · 6 mi
032616a
Northwood, NH · 6 mi
030376a
Deerfield, NH · 7 mi
033055b
Concord, NH · 9 mi
031066a
Hooksett, NH · 10 mi
032185b
Barnstead, NH · 10 mi

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about 03234

What planting zone is ZIP code 03234?

ZIP code 03234 (Epsom, 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 Epsom, NH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 03234 is May 8; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Concord Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Epsom, NH?

The median first fall frost near 03234 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 146 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 03234?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 03234 get?

About 45.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chichester 2.7 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Epsom, 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 03234 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chatfield at the center of ZIP 03234: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Epsom, NH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 03234 came on Apr 15 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Epsom, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 03234 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).