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

Planting zone for Schenectady, NY

Schenectady, NY is in USDA zones 5b to 6a across its 11 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 15.

Schenectady on the zone map

Outlined: its 8 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.

Zones5b–6a−15 to −5 °F
ZIP codes11
Last frostApr 27
First frostOct 15
Growing season169 days

5b 3 ZIPs   6a 8 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 Schenectady, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Albany Airport, NY, elevation 312 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 Schenectady

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 12305 came on Apr 11 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 5b in New York

609 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

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 120

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 208

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 185

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 7

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Schenectady, NY.

Soil in Schenectady, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12305 is Udorthents — gravelly loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cut and fill land.

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 12305; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Schenectady, NY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,886base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 16 °F 33°16° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 23 °F 38°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.44 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 MarApril: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Albany Airport, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Pattersonville 4.2 Ssw, NY (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Schenectady

123016a
−10 to −5 °F
123025b
−15 to −10 °F
123036a
−10 to −5 °F
123046a
−10 to −5 °F
123056a
−10 to −5 °F
123065b
−15 to −10 °F
123076a
−10 to −5 °F
123086a
−10 to −5 °F
123096a
−10 to −5 °F
123255b
−15 to −10 °F
123456a
−10 to −5 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Schenectady

What planting zone is Schenectady, NY?

Schenectady, NY is in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F; 6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Schenectady, NY?

The median last spring frost is April 27 and the median first fall frost is October 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albany Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Schenectady, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 16 – Apr 6; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Schenectady, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Schenectady, NY get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).