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

Planting zone for 03581 — Gorham, NH

ZIP code 03581 (Gorham, Coos County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 03581 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 14
First frostSep 26
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gorham, 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 Gorham, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Gorham Airport, NH — 6 miles away, elevation 801 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 03581

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 03581 came on Apr 17 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29).

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 5a in New Hampshire

467 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Hampshire, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 52

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 93

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 165

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 140

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 Gorham, NH.

Soil in Gorham, NH

The center of ZIP 03581 is mapped as No Digital Data Available: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 03581; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gorham, NH

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights181nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,767base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.3 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 27 °F, low 6 °F 27°6° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 7 °F 30°7° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 16 °F 39°16° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 29 °F 52°29° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 14 °F 33°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 MarApril: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gorham Airport, NH (6 mi away); precipitation: Gorham Airport, NH (6 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.

035704b
Berlin, NH · 11 mi
035935a
Randolph, NH · 11 mi
042865a
West Bethel, ME · 11 mi
042175a
Bethel, ME · 12 mi
042315a
Stoneham, ME · 13 mi
038465a
Jackson, NH · 13 mi
042615a
Newry, ME · 15 mi
040515a
Lovell, ME · 16 mi

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about 03581

What planting zone is ZIP code 03581?

ZIP code 03581 (Gorham, NH) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Gorham, NH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 03581 is May 14; after May 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gorham Airport station.

When is the first frost in Gorham, NH?

The median first fall frost near 03581 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 03581?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 03581 get?

About 43.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gorham Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Gorham, NH?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Gorham, NH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 03581 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gorham, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 03581 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).