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

Planting zone for Rochester, NY

Rochester, NY is in USDA zone 6b across its 37 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 25.

Rochester on the zone map

Outlined: its 22 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes37
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 25
Growing season181 days

6b 37 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rochester, 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 Rochester, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season181 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Rochester Gtr Intl Airport, NY, elevation 535 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 Rochester

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 14615 came on Apr 6 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 6b in New York

641 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 130

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 217

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 192

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 8

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 creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Rochester, NY.

Soil in Rochester, NY

The center of ZIP 14615 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 14615; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rochester, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,835base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall102 inper year; 72 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 33 °F, low 19 °F 33°19° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.55 in precipitation, 27.4 in snowfall 2.5❄27 JanFebruary: 2.13 in precipitation, 23.1 in snowfall 2.1❄23 FebMarch: 2.49 in precipitation, 17.9 in snowfall 2.5❄18 MarApril: 2.99 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 3.0❄3 AprMay: 2.86 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.9 MayJune: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.22 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.2 OctNovember: 2.76 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 2.8❄8 NovDecember: 2.67 in precipitation, 22.3 in snowfall 2.7❄22 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rochester Gtr Intl Airport, NY (6 mi away); precipitation: Rochester Gtr Intl Airport, NY (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Rochester

146026b
−5 to 0 °F
146036b
−5 to 0 °F
146046b
−5 to 0 °F
146056b
−5 to 0 °F
146066b
−5 to 0 °F
146076b
−5 to 0 °F
146086b
−5 to 0 °F
146096b
−5 to 0 °F
146106b
−5 to 0 °F
146116b
−5 to 0 °F
146126b
−5 to 0 °F
146136b
−5 to 0 °F
146156b
−5 to 0 °F
146166b
−5 to 0 °F
146176b
−5 to 0 °F
146186b
−5 to 0 °F
146196b
−5 to 0 °F
146206b
−5 to 0 °F
146216b
−5 to 0 °F
146226b
−5 to 0 °F
146236b
−5 to 0 °F
146246b
−5 to 0 °F
146256b
−5 to 0 °F
146266b
−5 to 0 °F
146386b
−5 to 0 °F
146396b
−5 to 0 °F
146436b
−5 to 0 °F
146446b
−5 to 0 °F
146466b
−5 to 0 °F
146476b
−5 to 0 °F
146496b
−5 to 0 °F
146506b
−5 to 0 °F
146516b
−5 to 0 °F
146526b
−5 to 0 °F
146536b
−5 to 0 °F
146926b
−5 to 0 °F
146946b
−5 to 0 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Rochester

What planting zone is Rochester, NY?

Rochester, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Rochester, NY?

The median last spring frost is April 24 and the median first fall frost is October 25 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rochester Gtr Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Rochester, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 13 – Apr 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 1, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Rochester, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Rochester, NY get?

About 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 102 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).