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

Planting zone for Elmira, NY

Elmira, NY is in USDA zones 5b to 6a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 11.

Elmira on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 ZIP code areas · 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.

Zones5b–6a−15 to −5 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 11
Growing season158 days

5b 1 ZIP   6a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Elmira, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Elmira, NY, elevation 948 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 Elmira

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 14904 came on Apr 6 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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).

Native plants for zone 5b in New York

609 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 120

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 208

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 185

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Elmira, NY.

Soil in Elmira, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14904 is Howard — gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Howard gravelly silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes.

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 14904; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elmira, NY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights151nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,589base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 16 °F 34°16° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 17 °F 36°17° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 23 °F 39°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.24 in precipitation 2.2 JanFebruary: 1.93 in precipitation 1.9 FebMarch: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 MarApril: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 NovDecember: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elmira, NY (2 mi away); precipitation: Elmira 1.3 Ese, NY (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Elmira

149016a
−10 to −5 °F
149026a
−10 to −5 °F
149035b
−15 to −10 °F
149046a
−10 to −5 °F
149056a
−10 to −5 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Elmira

What planting zone is Elmira, NY?

Elmira, NY is in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F; 6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Elmira, NY?

The median last spring frost is May 6 and the median first fall frost is October 11 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elmira station).

When can I plant a garden in Elmira, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 25 – Apr 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Elmira, NY?

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

How much rain and snow does Elmira, NY get?

About 36.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).