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

Planting zone for 03849 — Madison, NH

ZIP code 03849 (Madison, Carroll County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 03849 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 16
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 Madison, 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 Madison, NH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 10
Growing season129 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Tamworth 4, NH — 7 miles away, elevation 541 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 03849

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
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 16) 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 03849 came on Apr 16 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24).

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).

Soil in Madison, NH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 03849 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 classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Becket fine sandy loam, 15 to 25 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 03849; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Madison, NH

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,758base 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 29 °F, low 8 °F 29°8° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 8 °F 32°8° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 17 °F 40°17° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°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: Tamworth 4, NH (7 mi away); precipitation: Madison 1.7 Se, NH (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

038755a
Silver Lake, NH · 3 mi
038365a
Freedom, NH · 4 mi
038325a
Eaton Center, NH · 4 mi
038175a
Chocorua, NH · 5 mi
038905a
West Ossipee, NH · 6 mi
038865a
Tamworth, NH · 8 mi
038185a
Conway, NH · 9 mi
038145a
Center Ossipee, NH · 9 mi

New Hampshire planting zones →

Questions about 03849

What planting zone is ZIP code 03849?

ZIP code 03849 (Madison, 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 Madison, NH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 03849 is May 16; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tamworth 4 station.

When is the first frost in Madison, NH?

The median first fall frost near 03849 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 129 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 03849?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 03849 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Madison, NH?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 03849 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 03849: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Madison, NH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 03849 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Madison, NH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 03849 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).