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

Planting zone for 05481 — Saint Albans Bay, VT

ZIP code 05481 (Saint Albans Bay, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 05481 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 1
First frostOct 12
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 Saint Albans Bay, 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 Saint Albans Bay, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station St Albans Radio, VT — 4 miles away, elevation 381 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 05481

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 05481 came on Apr 18 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Saint Albans Bay, VT.

Soil in Saint Albans Bay, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05481 is Georgia — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Georgia stony loam, 3 to 8 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 05481; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Albans Bay, VT

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights148nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,304base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall80 inper year; 86 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 25 °F, low 8 °F 25°8° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 10 °F 29°10° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 51 °F 69°51° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 40 °F 56°40° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 30 °F 44°30° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 18 °F 32°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.12 in precipitation, 16.9 in snowfall 2.1❄17 JanFebruary: 1.85 in precipitation, 18.3 in snowfall 1.9❄18 FebMarch: 2.63 in precipitation, 16.2 in snowfall 2.6❄16 MarApril: 3.23 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 3.2❄6 AprMay: 3.24 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.2 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.86 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.9❄1 OctNovember: 2.86 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 2.9❄5 NovDecember: 2.62 in precipitation, 16 in snowfall 2.6❄16 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: St Albans Radio, VT (4 mi away); precipitation: St Albans Radio, VT (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

054785a
Saint Albans, VT · 2 mi
054795a
Saint Albans, VT · 3 mi
054745a
North Hero, VT · 5 mi
054885a
Swanton, VT · 8 mi
054555a
Fairfield, VT · 8 mi
054545a
Fairfax, VT · 9 mi
054835a
Sheldon, VT · 10 mi
054585a
Grand Isle, VT · 10 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05481

What planting zone is ZIP code 05481?

ZIP code 05481 (Saint Albans Bay, 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 Saint Albans Bay, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05481 is May 1; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, St Albans Radio station.

When is the first frost in Saint Albans Bay, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05481 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 161 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05481?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05481 get?

About 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 80 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, St Albans Radio station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Albans Bay, VT?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05481 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Georgia at the center of ZIP 05481: loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Saint Albans Bay, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05481 came on Apr 18 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Albans Bay, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05481 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).