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

Planting zone for Garden City, NY

Garden City, NY is in USDA zone 7b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 12.

Garden City on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 2
First frostNov 12
Growing season224 days

7b 3 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 Garden City, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 25.

From the NOAA station Mineola, NY, elevation 95 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 Garden City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 11531 came on Mar 24 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 7b in New York

660 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

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 131

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 224

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 201

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 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 9

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 °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 Garden City, NY.

Soil in Garden City, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11531 is Hempstead — silt loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7.5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Hempstead complex.

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 11531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Garden City, NY

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,682base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall19 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 35 °F 51°35° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 43 °F 62°43° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 60 °F 78°60° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 49 °F 67°49° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 40 °F 56°40° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 33 °F 47°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.65 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 3.6❄3 JanFebruary: 3.00 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 3.0❄6 FebMarch: 4.41 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 4.4❄3 MarApril: 3.75 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.8 AprMay: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.35 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 4.18 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 4.2❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mineola, NY (within 1 mile); precipitation: Mineola, NY (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Garden City

115307b
5 to 10 °F
115317b
5 to 10 °F
115997b
5 to 10 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Garden City

What planting zone is Garden City, NY?

Garden City, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Garden City, NY?

The median last spring frost is April 2 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mineola station).

When can I plant a garden in Garden City, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 19 – Mar 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 9, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Garden City, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Garden City, NY get?

About 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 19 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).