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

Planting zone for 05482 — Shelburne, VT

ZIP code 05482 (Shelburne, Chittenden County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 05482 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 2
First frostOct 14
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Shelburne, 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 Shelburne, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season165 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Willsboro 1 N, NY — 7 miles away, elevation 180 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 05482

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 05482 came on Apr 17 — 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 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 Shelburne, VT.

Soil in Shelburne, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05482 is Covington — silty clay, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter9.5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importance, if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Covington silty clay.

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 05482; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shelburne, VT

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,445base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall88 inper year; 89 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 29 °F, low 11 °F 29°11° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 12 °F 31°12° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 41 °F 58°41° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 31 °F 46°31° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.13 in precipitation, 21.1 in snowfall 2.1❄21 JanFebruary: 1.77 in precipitation, 19.3 in snowfall 1.8❄19 FebMarch: 2.24 in precipitation, 17.5 in snowfall 2.2❄18 MarApril: 3.07 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 3.1❄4 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.83 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.8 OctNovember: 2.70 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 2.7❄6 NovDecember: 2.50 in precipitation, 19.5 in snowfall 2.5❄20 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Willsboro 1 N, NY (7 mi away); precipitation: Burlington Intl Airport, VT (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

054035a
South Burlington, VT · 5 mi
054015b
Burlington, VT · 6 mi
054455a
Charlotte, VT · 6 mi
054055a
Burlington, VT · 6 mi
054045a
Winooski, VT · 8 mi
054955a
Williston, VT · 8 mi
054085b
Burlington, VT · 8 mi
054395a
Colchester, VT · 8 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05482

What planting zone is ZIP code 05482?

ZIP code 05482 (Shelburne, 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 Shelburne, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05482 is May 2; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Willsboro 1 N station.

When is the first frost in Shelburne, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05482 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 165 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05482?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05482 get?

About 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 88 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Burlington Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Shelburne, VT?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05482 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Covington at the center of ZIP 05482: silty clay, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Shelburne, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05482 came on Apr 17 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 Shelburne, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05482 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 05482 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 05482 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.