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

Planting zone for Stephentown, NY

Stephentown, NY is in USDA zone 5b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 5.

Stephentown on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 5
Growing season152 days

5b 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 Stephentown, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Pittsfield Municipal Airport, MA, elevation 1,194 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 Stephentown

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 12169 came on Apr 12 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Stephentown, NY.

Soil in Stephentown, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12169 is Brayton — gravelly silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Brayton very stony silt loam, nearly level.

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 12169; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stephentown, NY

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,235base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 51 °F 69°51° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 41 °F 58°41° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 21 °F 34°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 JanFebruary: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 5.13 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grafton, NY (13 mi away); precipitation: Averill Park 0.9 Wnw, NY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Stephentown

121685b
−15 to −10 °F
121695b
−15 to −10 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Stephentown

What planting zone is Stephentown, NY?

Stephentown, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Stephentown, NY?

The median last spring frost is May 5 and the median first fall frost is October 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pittsfield Municipal Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Stephentown, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 24 – Apr 14; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Stephentown, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Stephentown, NY get?

About 46.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).