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

Planting zone for Syracuse, NY

Syracuse, NY is in USDA zone 6a across its 28 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 19.

Syracuse on the zone map

Outlined: its 17 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 codes28
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 19
Growing season173 days

6a 28 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 Syracuse, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport, NY, elevation 413 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 Syracuse

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 13252 came on Apr 6 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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

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 129

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 215

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 189

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 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 Syracuse, NY.

Soil in Syracuse, NY

The center of ZIP 13252 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 13252; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Syracuse, NY

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,710base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.4 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 32 °F, low 17 °F 32°17° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 42 °F 60°42° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 33 °F 48°33° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 24 °F 37°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport, NY (5 mi away); precipitation: De Witt 1.4 Wsw, NY (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Syracuse

132016a
−10 to −5 °F
132026a
−10 to −5 °F
132036a
−10 to −5 °F
132046a
−10 to −5 °F
132056a
−10 to −5 °F
132066a
−10 to −5 °F
132076a
−10 to −5 °F
132086a
−10 to −5 °F
132096a
−10 to −5 °F
132106a
−10 to −5 °F
132116a
−10 to −5 °F
132126a
−10 to −5 °F
132146a
−10 to −5 °F
132156a
−10 to −5 °F
132176a
−10 to −5 °F
132186a
−10 to −5 °F
132196a
−10 to −5 °F
132206a
−10 to −5 °F
132216a
−10 to −5 °F
132246a
−10 to −5 °F
132256a
−10 to −5 °F
132356a
−10 to −5 °F
132446a
−10 to −5 °F
132506a
−10 to −5 °F
132516a
−10 to −5 °F
132526a
−10 to −5 °F
132616a
−10 to −5 °F
132906a
−10 to −5 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Syracuse

What planting zone is Syracuse, NY?

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

When is the last frost in Syracuse, NY?

The median last spring frost is April 29 and the median first fall frost is October 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Syracuse, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 18 – Apr 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 6, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Syracuse, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Syracuse, NY get?

About 43.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).