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

Planting zone for Newcomb, NY

Newcomb, NY is in USDA zone 4b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost September 26.

Newcomb 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 21
First frostSep 26
Growing season126 days

4b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Newcomb, 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 Newcomb, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season126 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 8 and returns around October 6.

From the NOAA station Newcomb, NY, elevation 1,647 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 Newcomb

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 4 – Jun 18
BeansSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 21) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 12852 came on Apr 17 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29).

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 4b in New York

526 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 60

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 99

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 hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 183

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 166

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 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Newcomb, NY.

Soil in Newcomb, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12852 is Tunbridge — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tunbridge-Lyman complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery.

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 12852; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Newcomb, NY

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights186nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,579base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall105 inper year; 139 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 26 °F, low 4 °F 26°4° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 4 °F 29°4° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 13 °F 37°13° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 12 °F 31°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.33 in precipitation, 23.9 in snowfall 3.3❄24 JanFebruary: 2.73 in precipitation, 23.4 in snowfall 2.7❄23 FebMarch: 3.09 in precipitation, 19.6 in snowfall 3.1❄20 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 3.5❄5 AprMay: 4.24 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.2 MayJune: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.50 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.5❄1 OctNovember: 3.74 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 3.7❄9 NovDecember: 3.83 in precipitation, 23.8 in snowfall 3.8❄24 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Newcomb

128524b
−25 to −20 °F
128794b
−25 to −20 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Newcomb

What planting zone is Newcomb, NY?

Newcomb, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F).

When is the last frost in Newcomb, NY?

The median last spring frost is May 21 and the median first fall frost is September 26 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newcomb station).

When can I plant a garden in Newcomb, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 9 – Apr 30; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 28, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Newcomb, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 29 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Newcomb, NY get?

About 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 105 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).