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

Planting zone for Essex Junction, VT

Essex Junction, VT is in USDA zone 5a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 11.

Essex Junction 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 2
First frostOct 11
Growing season160 days

5a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Essex Junction, VT…

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 Essex Junction, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Essex Junction 1 N, VT, elevation 341 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 Essex Junction

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 05452 came on Apr 16 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 5a in Vermont

459 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Vermont, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 49

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 92

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 162

alpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 139

American 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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 6

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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Essex Junction, VT.

Soil in Essex Junction, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05452 is Munson — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importance, if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Munson and Raynham silt loams, 2 to 6 percent slopes.

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 05452; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Essex Junction, VT

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights158nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,552base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation42.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall86 inper year; 101 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 28 °F, low 10 °F 28°10° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 31 °F 46°31° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.49 in precipitation, 20.4 in snowfall 2.5❄20 JanFebruary: 2.11 in precipitation, 19.2 in snowfall 2.1❄19 FebMarch: 2.70 in precipitation, 16.5 in snowfall 2.7❄17 MarApril: 3.49 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 3.5❄4 AprMay: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.44 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.4 OctNovember: 3.02 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 3.0❄6 NovDecember: 2.97 in precipitation, 19.3 in snowfall 3.0❄19 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Essex Junction 1 N, VT (3 mi away); precipitation: Essex Junction 1 N, VT (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Essex Junction

054525a
−20 to −15 °F
054535a
−20 to −15 °F

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about Essex Junction

What planting zone is Essex Junction, VT?

Essex Junction, VT is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Essex Junction, VT?

The median last spring frost is May 2 and the median first fall frost is October 11 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Essex Junction 1 N station).

When can I plant a garden in Essex Junction, VT?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 21 – Apr 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 9, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Essex Junction, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Essex Junction, VT get?

About 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 86 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).