US Grow Zones

Pawtucket, Rhode Island: planting zone & frost dates

Last updated · Sources: PRISM/OSU 2023 ZIP zone listings; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (station USC00379423); U.S. Census Bureau — see methodology

Pawtucket is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C). The typical last spring frost is around Apr 28 and the first fall frost around Oct 12.

Hardiness zone7A0 to 5°F
Last spring frostApr 2830% chance of frost after
First fall frostOct 1230% chance of frost before
Growing season179 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)May 6Oct 5
Typical planning date (30% risk)Apr 28Oct 12
Median (50%)Apr 22Oct 19

How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.

Frost data comes from NOAA station WOONSOCKET, RI (USC00379423), 9.7 mi (15.6 km) from the city center and 26 ft higher than the city center (+8 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 16 years.

Frost probability in spring and fall, Pawtucket, RIChance of a 32°F frost in Pawtucket, RI, NOAA 1991–2020. Spring: the chance of another frost falls from 90% on Apr 9 to 10% on May 6. Fall: the chance that the first frost has arrived rises from 10% on Oct 5 to 90% on Nov 2.0%50%100%Spring: later frostApr 1Apr 15May 130%: Apr 28Fall: frost arrivedOct 1Oct 15Nov 1Nov 1530%: Oct 1232°F frost28°F hard freezeplanning date
Shaded areas show the chance of a 32°F frost: falling through spring, rising through fall. The dashed line is the 28°F hard-freeze curve. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 Normals, station USC00379423.
Frost-free growing season in Pawtucket, RI1 in 10 risk: May 6 to Oct 5 (152 days); 3 in 10 risk: Apr 28 to Oct 12 (167 days); Median (50%): Apr 22 to Oct 19 (180 days); No 28°F freeze: Apr 7 to Oct 31 (207 days). In 9 of 10 years the 32°F-free season is at least 158 days.Frost-free days, spring to fallJFMAMJJASOND1 in 10 risk152 days3 in 10 risk167 daysMedian (50%)180 daysNo 28°F freeze207 days
Frost-free window at three risk levels, plus the window between 28°F hard freezes. Read about what the probabilities mean.

Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.

Hardiness zone across Pawtucket

All 2 ZIP codes covering Pawtucket are in zone 7a.

ZIP codes in Pawtucket and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
028607a59.0%
028617a41.0%

Vegetable planting calendar for Pawtucket

Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Apr 28, first frost Oct 12). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.

CropStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop sow/plant
TomatoMar 3 – Mar 17May 5 – May 19——
PepperFeb 17 – Mar 3May 12 – May 26——
LettuceMar 17 – Mar 31Apr 14 – May 5Mar 31 – May 12Aug 3 – Aug 31
Green Beans——May 5 – Jun 9Jul 20 – Aug 3
Sweet Corn——May 5 – Jun 2—
Zucchini & Summer SquashMar 31 – Apr 7May 5 – May 19May 5 – May 26Jul 20 – Aug 3
CucumberMar 31 – Apr 7May 12 – May 19May 5 – May 26Jul 20 – Aug 3
Carrot——Apr 7 – May 12Jul 20 – Aug 3
OnionFeb 3 – Feb 17Mar 31 – Apr 14——
Potato—Mar 31 – Apr 21——
BasilMar 17 – Mar 31May 12 – May 26May 12 – Jun 2—
Spinach——Mar 17 – Apr 14Aug 17 – Sep 14
KaleMar 3 – Mar 17Mar 31 – Apr 21Mar 31 – Apr 21Aug 3 – Aug 31
BroccoliMar 3 – Mar 17Apr 14 – May 5—Jul 20 – Aug 3
Peas——Mar 17 – Apr 7Aug 3 – Aug 17
EggplantFeb 17 – Mar 3May 12 – May 26——
CabbageMar 3 – Mar 17Mar 31 – Apr 14—Jul 20 – Aug 3
Radish——Mar 24 – May 12Aug 31 – Sep 28
Strawberry—Mar 31 – Apr 21——
Beets——Apr 7 – May 19Aug 3 – Aug 17

Nearby cities in Rhode Island

More: all Rhode Island cities · other zone 7a cities: Louisville, KY, Wichita, KS, Cleveland, OH, Lexington, KY, St. Louis, MO, Boise, ID, Amarillo, TX, Providence, RI

Pawtucket gardening questions

When is the last frost in Pawtucket, RI?

Plan around Apr 28. At NOAA's Woonsocket, RI station, 9.7 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Apr 22, and after May 6 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Apr 7. The last frost is fairly predictable here: only 27 days separate the 90% and 10% dates (median for cities on this site: 36 days).

When should I plant tomatoes in Pawtucket, RI?

Start seeds indoors Mar 3 – Mar 17 and set transplants outside May 5 – May 19, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 167 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.

How long is the growing season in Pawtucket?

About 179 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 158 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 198 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 5 and a 30% chance by Oct 12. That is the shortest of the 4 Rhode Island cities on this site.

When should I plant a fall garden in Pawtucket?

Count back from the first fall frost (Oct 12): transplant broccoli Jul 20 – Aug 3; sow kale Aug 3 – Aug 31; sow lettuce Aug 3 – Aug 31; sow radishes Aug 31 – Sep 28. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Oct 31. How the math works: succession and fall planting.

Did Pawtucket's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?

Yes. Most of Pawtucket was zone 6b on the 2012 map and is zone 7a on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.

How does Pawtucket compare with Providence, RI?

Both are in zone 7a. The typical last spring frost in Pawtucket (Apr 28) comes about 11 days later than in Providence, RI (Apr 17), 4 miles away, and the first fall frost is Oct 12 versus Oct 24. The two cities use different NOAA stations.