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

Planting zone for 05340 — Bondville, VT

ZIP code 05340 (Bondville, Bennington County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 05340 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 16
First frostOct 2
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 Bondville, 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 Bondville, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season140 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Peru, VT — 7 miles away, elevation 1,700 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 05340

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 05340 came on Apr 16 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28).

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 Bondville, VT.

Soil in Bondville, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05340 is Wilmington — peat, poorly drained.

TexturePeattop layer
pH4.7strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wilmington sandy loam, 0 to 8 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 05340; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bondville, VT

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights175nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,702base 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)
Precipitation51 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 27 °F, low 8 °F 27°8° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 10 °F 31°10° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 17 °F 38°17° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 56 °F 75°56° JulAugust: average high 73 °F, low 55 °F 73°55° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 47 °F 67°47° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 OctNovember: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Peru, VT (7 mi away); precipitation: Peru, VT (7 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.

052555a
Manchester Center, VT · 3 mi
051525a
Peru, VT · 5 mi
052545b
Manchester, VT · 5 mi
052535a
East Dorset, VT · 7 mi
051555a
South Londonderry, VT · 8 mi
052525a
East Arlington, VT · 8 mi
052515a
Dorset, VT · 9 mi
053605a
West Wardsboro, VT · 9 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05340

What planting zone is ZIP code 05340?

ZIP code 05340 (Bondville, 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 Bondville, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05340 is May 16; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Peru station.

When is the first frost in Bondville, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05340 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 140 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05340?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05340 get?

About 51 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Peru station).

How hot do summers get in Bondville, VT?

The average high peaks at 75 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05340 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wilmington at the center of ZIP 05340: peat, poorly drained, pH about 4.7 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bondville, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05340 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bondville, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05340 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).