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

Planting zone for 05650 — East Calais, VT

ZIP code 05650 (East Calais, Washington County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 05650 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 4
First frostOct 5
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for East Calais, 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 Calais, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Worcester 2 W, VT — 7 miles away, elevation 1,362 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 05650

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 05650 came on Apr 18 — 7 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 4b in Vermont

432 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Vermont, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. 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 83

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 151

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 133

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 5

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 °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 Calais, VT.

Soil in East Calais, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05650 is Vershire — very fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Vershire-Dummerston complex, 25 to 60 percent slopes, rocky.

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 05650; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Calais, VT

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,932base 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)
Precipitation46.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall126 inper year; 130 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 26 °F, low 8 °F 26°8° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 10 °F 29°10° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 56 °F 75°56° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 38 °F 54°38° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 28 °F 42°28° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 17 °F 31°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.17 in precipitation, 27 in snowfall 3.2❄27 JanFebruary: 2.82 in precipitation, 28.5 in snowfall 2.8❄29 FebMarch: 3.13 in precipitation, 21 in snowfall 3.1❄21 MarApril: 3.69 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 3.7❄8 AprMay: 4.27 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.3❄1 MayJune: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.28 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 4.3❄2 OctNovember: 3.60 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 3.6❄10 NovDecember: 3.87 in precipitation, 27.8 in snowfall 3.9❄28 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Worcester 2 W, VT (7 mi away); precipitation: Worcester 2 W, VT (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

056485a
Calais, VT · 3 mi
056664b
North Montpelier, VT · 4 mi
056584b
Marshfield, VT · 5 mi
056814b
Woodbury, VT · 5 mi
056405a
Adamant, VT · 5 mi
056825a
Worcester, VT · 6 mi
056474b
Cabot, VT · 7 mi
056514b
East Montpelier, VT · 9 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05650

What planting zone is ZIP code 05650?

ZIP code 05650 (East Calais, VT) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in East Calais, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05650 is May 4; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Worcester 2 W station.

When is the first frost in East Calais, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05650 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05650?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05650 get?

About 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 126 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Worcester 2 W station).

How hot do summers get in East Calais, VT?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05650 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Vershire at the center of ZIP 05650: very fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 05650 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Calais, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05650 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).