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

Planting zone for 03811 — Atkinson, NH

ZIP code 03811 (Atkinson, Rockingham County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 03811 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 30
First frostOct 11
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 Atkinson, 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 Atkinson, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station W Hampstead, NH — 5 miles away, elevation 289 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 03811

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 03811 came on Apr 11 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 Atkinson, NH.

Soil in Atkinson, NH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 03811 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 classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Chatfield-Hollis-Canton complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes, 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 03811; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Atkinson, NH

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,437base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 21 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)
Precipitation47.4 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 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: W Hampstead, NH (5 mi away); precipitation: Haverhill 0.7 N, MA (5 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.

030736a
North Salem, NH · 3 mi
038416a
Hampstead, NH · 3 mi
018326a
Haverhill, MA · 4 mi
038656a
Plaistow, NH · 4 mi
038266a
East Hampstead, NH · 4 mi
030796a
Salem, NH · 4 mi
018316b
Haverhill, MA · 5 mi
018306a
Haverhill, MA · 6 mi

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about 03811

What planting zone is ZIP code 03811?

ZIP code 03811 (Atkinson, 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 Atkinson, NH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 03811 is April 30; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, W Hampstead station.

When is the first frost in Atkinson, NH?

The median first fall frost near 03811 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 03811?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 03811 get?

About 47.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Haverhill 0.7 N station).

How hot do summers get in Atkinson, NH?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 03811 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chatfield at the center of ZIP 03811: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Atkinson, NH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 03811 came on Apr 11 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Atkinson, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 03811 is 15 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).