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

Planting zone for 05260 — North Pownal, VT

ZIP code 05260 (North Pownal, Bennington County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 05260 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 8
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 North Pownal, 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 Pownal, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Pownal 1 Ne, VT — 2 miles away, elevation 1,109 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 05260

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 05260 came on Apr 10 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 North Pownal, VT.

Soil in North Pownal, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05260 is Stockbridge — 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: Stockbridge loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes, very stony.

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 05260; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Pownal, VT

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights157nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,199base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.6 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 31 °F, low 12 °F 31°12° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 13 °F 33°13° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.37 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 FebMarch: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 MarApril: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 AprMay: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pownal 1 Ne, VT (2 mi away); precipitation: Bennington Morse St Airport, VT (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

052615b
Pownal, VT · 4 mi
120895b
Hoosick, NY · 5 mi
120905b
Hoosick Falls, NY · 6 mi
121385b
Petersburg, NY · 7 mi
052015b
Bennington, VT · 8 mi
121335b
North Hoosick, NY · 9 mi
053525b
Stamford, VT · 9 mi
012675b
Williamstown, MA · 10 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05260

What planting zone is ZIP code 05260?

ZIP code 05260 (North Pownal, 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 North Pownal, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05260 is May 7; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pownal 1 Ne station.

When is the first frost in North Pownal, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05260 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05260?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05260 get?

About 38.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bennington Morse St Airport station).

How hot do summers get in North Pownal, 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 05260 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Stockbridge at the center of ZIP 05260: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 05260 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in North Pownal, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05260 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).