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

Planting zone for 05255 — Manchester Center, VT

ZIP code 05255 (Manchester Center, Bennington 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 September 29.

Where ZIP 05255 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 frostSep 29
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 Manchester Center, 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 Manchester Center, 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 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season137 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Sunderland 2, VT — 6 miles away, elevation 899 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 05255

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 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 05255 came on Apr 16 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26).

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).

Soil in Manchester Center, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05255 is Rawsonville — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

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

Map unit: Rawsonville-Hogback complex, 25 to 60 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 05255; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Manchester Center, VT

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights164nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,108base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 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)
Precipitation46.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall75 inper year; 83 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 32 °F, low 11 °F 32°11° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 12 °F 35°12° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 20 °F 43°20° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 31 °F 57°31° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.53 in precipitation, 18.5 in snowfall 3.5❄19 JanFebruary: 2.82 in precipitation, 16.4 in snowfall 2.8❄16 FebMarch: 3.39 in precipitation, 14 in snowfall 3.4❄14 MarApril: 3.48 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 3.5❄4 AprMay: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.47 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 4.5❄1 OctNovember: 3.31 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 3.3❄4 NovDecember: 4.38 in precipitation, 17.4 in snowfall 4.4❄17 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sunderland 2, VT (6 mi away); precipitation: Sunderland 2, VT (6 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.

052545b
Manchester, VT · 3 mi
053405a
Bondville, VT · 3 mi
052525a
East Arlington, VT · 4 mi
053605a
West Wardsboro, VT · 8 mi
051525a
Peru, VT · 8 mi
052505a
Arlington, VT · 8 mi
052535a
East Dorset, VT · 9 mi
052515a
Dorset, VT · 9 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05255

What planting zone is ZIP code 05255?

ZIP code 05255 (Manchester Center, 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 Manchester Center, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05255 is May 13; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sunderland 2 station.

When is the first frost in Manchester Center, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05255 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 137 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05255?

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 05255 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 75 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sunderland 2 station).

How hot do summers get in Manchester Center, VT?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05255 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rawsonville at the center of ZIP 05255: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Manchester Center, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05255 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Manchester Center, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05255 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).