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

Planting zone for 05448 — East Fairfield, VT

ZIP code 05448 (East Fairfield, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 05448 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 18
First frostSep 30
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 East Fairfield, 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 East Fairfield, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Enosburg Falls 2, VT — 11 miles away, elevation 427 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 05448

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 05448 came on Apr 17 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 East Fairfield, VT.

Soil in East Fairfield, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05448 is Woodstock — fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Woodstock-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 25 percent slopes.

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 05448; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Fairfield, VT

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, February
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights181nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,080base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 4 °F 27°4° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 3 °F 30°3° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 29 °F 54°29° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 40 °F 68°40° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 2.23 in precipitation 2.2 MarApril: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Enosburg Falls 2, VT (11 mi away); precipitation: Enosburg Falls 2, VT (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

054414b
Bakersfield, VT · 5 mi
054555a
Fairfield, VT · 5 mi
054925a
Waterville, VT · 6 mi
054645a
Jeffersonville, VT · 6 mi
054545a
Fairfax, VT · 8 mi
054425a
Belvidere Center, VT · 9 mi
054445a
Cambridge, VT · 9 mi
054504b
Enosburg Falls, VT · 10 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05448

What planting zone is ZIP code 05448?

ZIP code 05448 (East Fairfield, 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 East Fairfield, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05448 is May 18; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Enosburg Falls 2 station.

When is the first frost in East Fairfield, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05448 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05448?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05448 get?

About 40 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Enosburg Falls 2 station).

How hot do summers get in East Fairfield, VT?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05448 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Woodstock at the center of ZIP 05448: fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in East Fairfield, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05448 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Fairfield, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05448 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 05448 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 05448 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.