The planting zones within the state of Massachusetts vary from the cooler zone 5b within the northwest nook of the state to 7b alongside the southeast coast and islands.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a map that divides america into totally different zones primarily based on the typical minimal winter temperature. Informal gardeners {and professional} farmers alike use this map to find out which crops will develop greatest of their space. Right here’s some extra data about Massachusetts’ hardiness zones:
Map of Massachusetts Planting Zones
For extra info on hardiness zones and the best way to use them, learn our article on the up to date USDA Hardiness Zone map.
Zone 5b: Northwest Massachusetts
Zone 5b is the best zone in Massachusetts, with a mean minimal temperature of detrimental 15 to detrimental 10 levels Fahrenheit. This zone is positioned in Northwest Massachusetts and borders Vermont and New York.
Massachusetts’ zone 5b incorporates elements of Berkshire, Franklin, and Worcester counties, in addition to a really small portion of Hampden and Hampshire counties. By way of main cities, Pittsfield and Gardner each fall inside zone 5b.
Zone 6a: Central Massachusetts
The following coolest zone in Massachusetts is Zone 6a. 6a has a mean minimal temperature of detrimental 10 to detrimental 5 levels Fahrenheit, so whereas it’s barely hotter, it will possibly nonetheless get frigid. This gardening zone incorporates a lot of Central Massachusetts and elements of West Massachusetts.
Zone 6a incorporates elements of Hampden and Worcester counties, in addition to the remaining space of a lot of the 5b counties. 6a additionally incorporates elements of Middlesex and Essex counties. The main cities Greenfield and Worcester are additionally in 6a.
Zone 6B: Jap Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ Zone 6b has a mean minimal temperature of detrimental 5 to 0 Fahrenheit. This zone is primarily Jap Massachusetts, although elements of it do creep into Central and Western Massachusetts.
Apparently sufficient, 6b, identical to 5b and 6a, additionally incorporates elements of Worcester and Hampden counties. Which means that they each include three separate planting zones. 6b additionally extends into elements of Middlesex and Essex counties along with Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth. The main cities Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell all fall inside 6b.
Zone 7a: Southeastern Massachusetts
The primary rising zone in Massachusetts to not fall into the negatives is Zone 7a. This zone has a mean minimal temperature of 0 to five levels Fahrenheit, nonetheless severely chilly however no less than in constructive temperatures. 7a runs alongside a lot of the Massachusetts shoreline within the Southeast a part of the state.
Massachusetts’ zone 7a incorporates elements of some 6b counties reminiscent of Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol. Small parts of Middlesex and Essex additionally fall inside 7a, which means that they, too, include three distinct rising zones. Most of Barnstable County falls inside 7a, as does nearly everything of Dukes County.
The main cities New Bedford, Gloucester, Plymouth, and Barnstable all fall inside 7a. Lastly, zone 7a additionally incorporates Boston, Massachusetts’ capital metropolis.
Zone 7b: Southeastern Coast and Islands
The final and warmest rising zone in Massachusetts is Zone 7b. That is additionally the smallest of Massachusetts’ rising zones because it solely incorporates small elements of the Southeast shoreline and the island counties off the mainland.
Zone 7b incorporates a part of Barnstable County in addition to a small portion of Dukes County. The island of Nantucket falls solely inside 7b, making it the one county in Massachusetts to solely include one gardening zone. Nonetheless, 7b doesn’t include any main cities.
Extra Garden Care and Landscaping Sources for Massachusetts
There are many methods you may enhance your garden or backyard. Listed below are a number of extra articles that can assist you care for your Massachusetts panorama:
About Fuel Leaf Blower Bans in Massachusetts
4 Widespread Garden Ailments Present in Massachusetts
FAQ About Massachusetts Gardening
Which planting zones did Massachusetts have earlier than the 2023 replace?
Within the 2012 model of the USDA hardiness map, Massachusetts had Zone 5a along with 5b to 7b because it does within the 2023 model.
When is the rising season in Massachusetts?
The everyday begin date for the rising season in Massachusetts is early to mid Could, the time of the final frost of spring. The tip date can vary from the starting of September to the finish of November, each time the primary frost of the autumn season happens.
Are fuel leaf blowers banned in Massachusetts?
Whereas Massachusetts doesn’t have a state-wide ban on fuel leaf blowers, there are a lot of native bans or restrictions. Analysis your metropolis and native legal guidelines to see if a fuel leaf blower is allowed in your space.
Discover a Garden Professional Now
Planting zones decide which crops can survive in a given space of the map. Analysis your planting zone and which crops thrive in it to maintain your garden and backyard lovely.
Should you need assistance, contact landscaping professionals close to you. They will keep your panorama or mow your Massachusetts garden for you whether or not you reside in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, or Lowell.
Predominant Picture Credit score: Garden in entrance of a home in Bedford, Massachusetts / Doug Kerr / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Austin Geiger
Austin Geiger is a lover of all issues nature. He enjoys writing complete, easy-to-swallow articles about pest administration options, landscaping ideas, and methods for folks to assist their native pollinators.