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

Planting zone for 05490 — Underhill Center, VT

ZIP code 05490 (Underhill Center, Chittenden County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 05490 is

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 23
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 Underhill Center, 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 Underhill Center, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season130 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Mt Mansfield, VT — 4 miles away, elevation 3,950 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 05490

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
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 23) 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 05490 came on Apr 16 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 Underhill Center, VT.

Soil in Underhill Center, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05490 is Marlow — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Marlow fine sandy loam, 12 to 20 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 05490; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Underhill Center, VT

Summer high69 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights198nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,296base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation81.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall235 inper year; 205 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 21 °F, low 6 °F 21°6° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low 7 °F 23°7° FebMarch: average high 30 °F, low 16 °F 30°16° MarApril: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° AprMay: average high 57 °F, low 41 °F 57°41° MayJune: average high 65 °F, low 50 °F 65°50° JunJuly: average high 69 °F, low 55 °F 69°55° JulAugust: average high 68 °F, low 54 °F 68°54° AugSeptember: average high 61 °F, low 47 °F 61°47° SepOctober: average high 48 °F, low 35 °F 48°35° OctNovember: average high 36 °F, low 23 °F 36°23° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 13 °F 27°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.62 in precipitation, 40.9 in snowfall 5.6❄41 JanFebruary: 5.26 in precipitation, 44.6 in snowfall 5.3❄45 FebMarch: 5.88 in precipitation, 38.7 in snowfall 5.9❄39 MarApril: 6.31 in precipitation, 21.4 in snowfall 6.3❄21 AprMay: 6.88 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 6.9❄6 MayJune: 7.86 in precipitation 7.9 JunJuly: 7.31 in precipitation 7.3 JulAugust: 6.89 in precipitation 6.9 AugSeptember: 7.26 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 7.3 SepOctober: 7.63 in precipitation, 10.1 in snowfall 7.6❄10 OctNovember: 6.68 in precipitation, 30.4 in snowfall 6.7❄30 NovDecember: 7.51 in precipitation, 43.2 in snowfall 7.5❄43 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Mansfield, VT (4 mi away); precipitation: Mt Mansfield, VT (4 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.

054655a
Jericho, VT · 3 mi
054895a
Underhill, VT · 4 mi
054445a
Cambridge, VT · 8 mi
054515a
Essex, VT · 8 mi
056725a
Stowe, VT · 9 mi
054665a
Jonesville, VT · 9 mi
054525a
Essex Junction, VT · 9 mi
056624b
Moscow, VT · 9 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05490

What planting zone is ZIP code 05490?

ZIP code 05490 (Underhill Center, 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 Underhill Center, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05490 is May 23; after June 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Mansfield station.

When is the first frost in Underhill Center, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05490 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 130 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05490?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05490 get?

About 81.1 inches of precipitation a year and 235 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Mansfield station).

How hot do summers get in Underhill Center, VT?

The average high peaks at 69 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05490 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Marlow at the center of ZIP 05490: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Underhill Center, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05490 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Underhill Center, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05490 is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 05490 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 05490 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.