Regions

USDA Hardiness Zones
3 to 7

AHS Heat Zones
2 to 6

The Region
This region typically has 4 distinct seasons, even though the gardening season varies from the moderate zone 7 Atlantic Ocean influenced temperatures to a frigid zone 3 in northern New Hampshire and Maine. The limiting factor to gardening in the area is cold. Both rain and snowfall are evenly distributed throughout the seasons. Spring and fall feature mild, pleasant weather great for planting and enjoying roses. Summers are hot and humid along the coasts and cool in the mountains. Winters are long and severe with heavy snow and sometimes, ice storms. Annual precipitation amounts vary from 30 to 40 inches a year inland to up to 50 inches a year in some the coastal states.Last frost dates range from end of April along the coast to early June in the mountains. First frost dates tend to be from early September to the end of October. The frost free growing season ranges from 120 to 180 days.