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

Planting zone for 03832 — Eaton Center, NH

ZIP code 03832 (Eaton Center, Carroll County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost September 25.

Where ZIP 03832 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 17
First frostSep 25
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 Eaton Center, 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 Eaton Center, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 25median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season128 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Fryeburg E Slopes Airport, ME — 7 miles away, elevation 446 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 03832

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 31 – Aug 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 11 – Oct 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Sep 25) 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 03832 came on Apr 16 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 Eaton Center, NH.

Soil in Eaton Center, NH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 03832 is Lyman — moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH3.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lyman-Berkshire-Rock outcrop complex, 25 to 60 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 03832; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Eaton Center, NH

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,133base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52.2 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 31 °F, low 7 °F 31°7° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 9 °F 34°9° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 19 °F 42°19° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 30 °F 56°30° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 56 °F 82°56° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 54 °F 81°54° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 AprMay: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 5.69 in precipitation 5.7 OctNovember: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Fryeburg E Slopes Airport, ME (7 mi away); precipitation: Madison 1.7 Se, NH (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

038495a
Madison, NH · 4 mi
038365a
Freedom, NH · 5 mi
040105a
Brownfield, ME · 7 mi
040685a
Porter, ME · 7 mi
038755a
Silver Lake, NH · 7 mi
038175a
Chocorua, NH · 10 mi
038605a
North Conway, NH · 10 mi
038905a
West Ossipee, NH · 10 mi

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about 03832

What planting zone is ZIP code 03832?

ZIP code 03832 (Eaton Center, 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 Eaton Center, NH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 03832 is May 17; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fryeburg E Slopes Airport station.

When is the first frost in Eaton Center, NH?

The median first fall frost near 03832 is September 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 128 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 03832?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 03832 get?

About 52.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madison 1.7 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Eaton Center, 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 03832 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lyman at the center of ZIP 03832: moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 3.5 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 03832 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Eaton Center, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 03832 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).