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

Planting zone for 05053 — North Pomfret, VT

ZIP code 05053 (North Pomfret, Windsor County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 05053 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 13
First frostOct 1
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 North Pomfret, 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 North Pomfret, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season141 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Woodstock, VT — 6 miles away, elevation 600 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 05053

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 05053 came on Apr 16 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 North Pomfret, VT.

Soil in North Pomfret, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05053 is Glover — highly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureHighly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Glover-Vershire complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very 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 05053; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Pomfret, VT

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights172nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,230base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.3 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 7 °F 30°7° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 9 °F 33°9° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° 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

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 MarApril: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Woodstock, VT (6 mi away); precipitation: Pomfret 2.6 N, VT (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

050845a
West Hartford, VT · 2 mi
050675a
South Pomfret, VT · 3 mi
050315a
Barnard, VT · 5 mi
050915a
Woodstock, VT · 6 mi
050685a
South Royalton, VT · 6 mi
050015a
White River Junction, VT · 6 mi
050595a
Quechee, VT · 6 mi
050655a
Sharon, VT · 6 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05053

What planting zone is ZIP code 05053?

ZIP code 05053 (North Pomfret, 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 North Pomfret, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05053 is May 13; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Woodstock station.

When is the first frost in North Pomfret, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05053 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 141 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05053?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05053 get?

About 44.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pomfret 2.6 N station).

How hot do summers get in North Pomfret, VT?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05053 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Glover at the center of ZIP 05053: highly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in North Pomfret, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05053 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in North Pomfret, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05053 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).