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

Planting zone for 05009 — White River Junction, VT

ZIP code 05009 (White River Junction, Windsor County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 05009 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 9
First frostOct 6
2012 zone5a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for White River 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 White River Junction, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season148 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Lebanon Municipal Airport, NH — 2 miles away, elevation 597 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 05009

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 05009 came on Apr 15 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 White River Junction, VT.

Soil in White River Junction, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05009 is Vershire — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Vershire-Dummerston complex, 8 to 15 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 05009; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in White River Junction, VT

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,364base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 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)
Precipitation38.1 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 9 °F 30°9° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 11 °F 34°11° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 32 °F 57°32° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 JanFebruary: 2.10 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 MarApril: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lebanon Municipal Airport, NH (2 mi away); precipitation: Lebanon Municipal Airport, NH (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

050475a
Hartford, VT · 2 mi
037845a
West Lebanon, NH · 2 mi
050885a
Wilder, VT · 3 mi
050015a
White River Junction, VT · 3 mi
050525a
North Hartland, VT · 4 mi
050595a
Quechee, VT · 4 mi
037665a
Lebanon, NH · 6 mi
050485a
Hartland, VT · 6 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in White River Junction → · Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05009

What planting zone is ZIP code 05009?

ZIP code 05009 (White River Junction, VT) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in White River Junction, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05009 is May 9; after May 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lebanon Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in White River Junction, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05009 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 148 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05009?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05009 get?

About 38.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lebanon Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in White River Junction, VT?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05009 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Vershire at the center of ZIP 05009: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in White River Junction, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05009 came on Apr 15 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in White River Junction, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05009 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).