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

Planting zone for 05159 — Westminster Station, VT

ZIP code 05159 (Westminster Station, Windham County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 05159 is

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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Westminster Station, 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 Westminster Station, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Walpole 2s Nepp, NH — 4 miles away, elevation 604 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 05159

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 05159 came on Apr 12 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 5b in Vermont

470 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Vermont, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 52

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 94

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 166

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 140

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 Westminster Station, VT.

Soil in Westminster Station, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05159 is Macomber — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Macomber-Taconic complex, 8 to 15 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 05159; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Westminster Station, VT

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,218base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall60 inper year; 97 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 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 14 °F 33°14° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.20 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 3.2❄15 JanFebruary: 2.64 in precipitation, 15.9 in snowfall 2.6❄16 FebMarch: 3.13 in precipitation, 11.7 in snowfall 3.1❄12 MarApril: 3.27 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.3❄2 AprMay: 3.72 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.7 MayJune: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 5.04 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 5.0❄1 OctNovember: 3.46 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 3.5❄3 NovDecember: 3.94 in precipitation, 11 in snowfall 3.9❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Walpole 2s Nepp, NH (4 mi away); precipitation: Walpole 3, NH (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

051585b
Westminster, VT · 1 mi
036085b
Walpole, NH · 3 mi
036095b
North Walpole, NH · 3 mi
036045b
Drewsville, NH · 4 mi
051545b
Saxtons River, VT · 5 mi
051015b
Bellows Falls, VT · 5 mi
053465b
Putney, VT · 6 mi
036026a
Alstead, NH · 6 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05159

What planting zone is ZIP code 05159?

ZIP code 05159 (Westminster Station, VT) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Westminster Station, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05159 is May 8; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walpole 2s Nepp station.

When is the first frost in Westminster Station, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05159 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05159?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05159 get?

About 45.8 inches of precipitation a year and 60 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walpole 3 station).

How hot do summers get in Westminster Station, VT?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05159 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Macomber at the center of ZIP 05159: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Westminster Station, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05159 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Westminster Station, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05159 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).