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

Planting zone for Jamestown, NY

Jamestown, NY is in USDA zone 6a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 13.

Jamestown 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 13
Growing season158 days

6a 2 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 Jamestown, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Jamestown 4 Ene, NY, elevation 1,250 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 Jamestown

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 14702 came on Apr 4 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 6a in New York

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

Shrubs 129

Wildflowers & perennials 215

Grasses 189

Vines 8

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 Jamestown, NY.

Soil in Jamestown, NY

The center of ZIP 14702 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 14702; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Jamestown, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,365base 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)
Precipitation45.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall98 inper year; 81 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 31 °F 48°31° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.81 in precipitation, 29.8 in snowfall 3.8❄30 JanFebruary: 2.70 in precipitation, 19.3 in snowfall 2.7❄19 FebMarch: 3.16 in precipitation, 15.3 in snowfall 3.2❄15 MarApril: 3.91 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 3.9❄3 AprMay: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.11 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.1 OctNovember: 3.69 in precipitation, 9.3 in snowfall 3.7❄9 NovDecember: 3.92 in precipitation, 21.6 in snowfall 3.9❄22 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Jamestown 4 Ene, NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Jamestown 4 Ene, NY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Jamestown

New York planting zones →

Questions about Jamestown

What planting zone is Jamestown, NY?

Jamestown, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Jamestown, NY?

The median last spring frost is May 8 and the median first fall frost is October 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jamestown 4 Ene station).

When can I plant a garden in Jamestown, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 27 – Apr 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Jamestown, 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 Jamestown, NY get?

About 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 98 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).