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

Planting zone for Jamaica, NY

Jamaica, NY is in USDA zone 7b across its 13 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 14.

Jamaica on the zone map

Outlined: its 9 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 codes13
Last frostApr 2
First frostNov 14
Growing season226 days

7b 13 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Jamaica, NY…

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 Jamaica, 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 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 14median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season226 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 23 and returns around November 26.

From the NOAA station New York Jfk Intl Airport, NY, elevation 10 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 Jamaica

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 19 – Oct 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 31 – Dec 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 14) 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 11436 came on Mar 24 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22).

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 Jamaica, NY.

Soil in Jamaica, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11436 is Flatbush — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter8.7%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Flatbush complex, 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 11436; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Jamaica, NY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights74nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,483base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 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)
Precipitation43.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall26 inper year; 20 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 26 °F 40°26° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 43 °F 59°43° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 53 °F 68°53° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 62 °F 78°62° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 69 °F 84°69° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 68 °F 82°68° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 61 °F 76°61° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 50 °F 65°50° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 40 °F 54°40° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 32 °F 45°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.23 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 3.2❄8 JanFebruary: 2.76 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 2.8❄9 FebMarch: 3.94 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 3.9❄4 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.5❄1 AprMay: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.07 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.1 NovDecember: 3.96 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 4.0❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: New York Jfk Intl Airport, NY (3 mi away); precipitation: New York Jfk Intl Airport, NY (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Jamaica

114057b
5 to 10 °F
114247b
5 to 10 °F
114257b
5 to 10 °F
114307b
5 to 10 °F
114317b
5 to 10 °F
114327b
5 to 10 °F
114337b
5 to 10 °F
114347b
5 to 10 °F
114357b
5 to 10 °F
114367b
5 to 10 °F
114397b
5 to 10 °F
114517b
5 to 10 °F
114997b
5 to 10 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Jamaica

What planting zone is Jamaica, NY?

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

When is the last frost in Jamaica, NY?

The median last spring frost is April 2 and the median first fall frost is November 14 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New York Jfk Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Jamaica, 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 Jamaica, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Jamaica, NY get?

About 43.3 inches of precipitation a year and 26 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).