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

Planting zone for Rutland, VT

Rutland, VT is in USDA zone 5a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 27.

Rutland 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 15
First frostSep 27
Growing season132 days

5a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rutland, 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 Rutland, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Rutland, VT, elevation 620 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 Rutland

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 05701 came on Apr 16 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 Rutland, VT.

Soil in Rutland, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05701 is Rawsonville — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rawsonville-Houghtonville complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, rocky.

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 05701; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rutland, VT

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights164nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,056base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall75 inper year; 88 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 29 °F, low 8 °F 29°8° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 9 °F 32°9° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 18 °F 41°18° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.69 in precipitation, 18.3 in snowfall 2.7❄18 JanFebruary: 2.16 in precipitation, 16 in snowfall 2.2❄16 FebMarch: 2.73 in precipitation, 13.8 in snowfall 2.7❄14 MarApril: 3.11 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 3.1❄3 AprMay: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.98 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.0 OctNovember: 2.76 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 2.8❄5 NovDecember: 3.02 in precipitation, 18.3 in snowfall 3.0❄18 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Rutland

057015a
−20 to −15 °F
057025a
−20 to −15 °F

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about Rutland

What planting zone is Rutland, VT?

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

When is the last frost in Rutland, VT?

The median last spring frost is May 15 and the median first fall frost is September 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rutland station).

When can I plant a garden in Rutland, VT?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 3 – Apr 24; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 22, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Rutland, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 26 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Rutland, VT get?

About 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 75 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).