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

Planting zone for 05651 — East Montpelier, VT

ZIP code 05651 (East Montpelier, Washington County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 25 and the first fall frost September 22.

Where ZIP 05651 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 25
First frostSep 22
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 Montpelier, 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 Montpelier, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 22median — 10% chance by Sep 9
Growing season119 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around October 2.

From the NOAA station Plainfield, VT — 4 miles away, elevation 801 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 05651

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 13 – May 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 4 – May 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 8 – Jun 22
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 1 – Jun 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 28 – Aug 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 8 – Oct 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 25) and first fall frost (Sep 22) 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 05651 came on Apr 16 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24).

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 Montpelier, VT.

Soil in East Montpelier, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05651 is Dummerston — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dummerston fine sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, very stony.

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 05651; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Montpelier, VT

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights183nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,743base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41 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 25 °F, low 3 °F 25°3° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 4 °F 29°4° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 14 °F 38°14° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 27 °F 52°27° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 39 °F 66°39° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 51 °F 78°51° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 12 °F 31°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.43 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 MarApril: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 Dec

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

056405a
Adamant, VT · 4 mi
056675a
Plainfield, VT · 4 mi
056034b
Montpelier, VT · 5 mi
056664b
North Montpelier, VT · 5 mi
056044b
Montpelier, VT · 5 mi
056094b
Montpelier, VT · 5 mi
056204b
Montpelier, VT · 5 mi
056334b
Montpelier, VT · 5 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05651

What planting zone is ZIP code 05651?

ZIP code 05651 (East Montpelier, 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 Montpelier, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05651 is May 25; after June 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Plainfield station.

When is the first frost in East Montpelier, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05651 is September 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 119 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05651?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 30 – Apr 13 and set transplants outside around Jun 1 – Jun 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05651 get?

About 41 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Plainfield station).

How hot do summers get in East Montpelier, VT?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05651 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dummerston at the center of ZIP 05651: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 05651 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Montpelier, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05651 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).