USDA hardiness zones in Massachusetts
| Zone | Avg. extreme minimum | ZIP codes | Example cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5b | −15 to −10°F | 65 | Pittsfield, Gardner, North Adams |
| Zone 6a | −10 to −5°F | 147 | Worcester, Springfield, Haverhill, Chicopee |
| Zone 6b | −5 to 0°F | 228 | Cambridge, Lowell, Brockton, Newton |
| Zone 7a | 0 to 5°F | 112 | Boston, Lynn, Quincy, New Bedford |
| Zone 7b | 5 to 10°F | 26 | — |
Growing zone and frost dates by city
| City | Zone | Frost dates |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Boston frost dates |
| Worcester | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Worcester frost dates |
| Springfield | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Springfield frost dates |
| Cambridge | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Cambridge frost dates |
| Lowell | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Lowell frost dates |
| Brockton | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Brockton frost dates |
| Lynn | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Lynn frost dates |
| Quincy | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Quincy frost dates |
| New Bedford | 7a (0 to 5°F) | New Bedford frost dates |
| Fall River | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Fall River frost dates |
| Newton | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Newton frost dates |
| Lawrence | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Lawrence frost dates |
| Somerville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Somerville frost dates |
| Framingham | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Framingham frost dates |
| Haverhill | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Haverhill frost dates |
| Malden | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Malden frost dates |
| Waltham | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Waltham frost dates |
| Taunton | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Taunton frost dates |
| Revere | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Revere frost dates |
| Medford | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Medford frost dates |
| Weymouth | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Weymouth frost dates |
| Peabody | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Peabody frost dates |
| Chicopee | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Chicopee frost dates |
| Methuen | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Methuen frost dates |
| Everett | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Everett frost dates |
| Barnstable | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Barnstable frost dates |
| Attleboro | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Attleboro frost dates |
| Salem | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Salem frost dates |
| Leominster | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Leominster frost dates |
| Woburn | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Woburn frost dates |
| Beverly | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Beverly frost dates |
| Pittsfield | 5b (−15 to −10°F) | Pittsfield frost dates |
| Marlborough | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Marlborough frost dates |
| Fitchburg | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Fitchburg frost dates |
| Amherst | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Amherst frost dates |
| Westfield | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Westfield frost dates |
| Chelsea | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Chelsea frost dates |
| Braintree | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Braintree frost dates |
| Holyoke | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Holyoke frost dates |
| Watertown | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Watertown frost dates |
| Randolph | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Randolph frost dates |
| Franklin | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Franklin frost dates |
| North Attleborough | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | North Attleborough frost dates |
| Northampton | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Northampton frost dates |
| Gloucester | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Gloucester frost dates |
| Melrose | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Melrose frost dates |
| Bridgewater | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Bridgewater frost dates |
| West Springfield | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | West Springfield frost dates |
| Agawam | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Agawam frost dates |
| Gardner | 5b (−15 to −10°F) | Gardner frost dates |
| Newburyport | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Newburyport frost dates |
| Winthrop | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Winthrop frost dates |
| Southbridge | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Southbridge frost dates |
| Greenfield | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Greenfield frost dates |
| Amesbury | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Amesbury frost dates |
| Easthampton | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Easthampton frost dates |
| North Adams | 5b (−15 to −10°F) | North Adams frost dates |
| Palmer | 6a (−10 to −5°F) | Palmer frost dates |
Frequently asked questions
What growing zone is Massachusetts in?
Massachusetts’s ZIP codes span USDA zones 5b to 7b, and 6b is the most common. Zones vary with elevation and distance from water, so check your own ZIP code.
When should I plant?
Hardiness zones are about winter cold, not planting dates. For timing, use the last spring frost date for your city on our Massachusetts frost dates page.