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

Planting zone for 05740 — East Middlebury, VT

ZIP code 05740 (East Middlebury, Addison County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 05740 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 21
First frostSep 26
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 East Middlebury, 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 Middlebury, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season127 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 7 and returns around October 6.

From the NOAA station Salisbury 2 N, VT — 3 miles away, elevation 420 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 05740

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 4 – Jun 18
BeansSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 21) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 05740 came on Apr 14 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 East Middlebury, VT.

Soil in East Middlebury, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05740 is Stetson — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly 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 matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Stetson gravelly fine sandy loam, 0 to 5 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 05740; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Middlebury, VT

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,361base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall73 inper year; 91 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 31 °F, low 9 °F 31°9° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 10 °F 35°10° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 19 °F 44°19° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 30 °F 59°30° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 41 °F 72°41° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 51 °F 80°51° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 47 °F 75°47° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 16 °F 36°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.41 in precipitation, 18.5 in snowfall 2.4❄19 JanFebruary: 2.02 in precipitation, 13.8 in snowfall 2.0❄14 FebMarch: 2.36 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 2.4❄14 MarApril: 3.30 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 3.3❄3 AprMay: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.21 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.2❄1 OctNovember: 2.91 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 2.9❄5 NovDecember: 3.17 in precipitation, 17.7 in snowfall 3.2❄18 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Salisbury 2 N, VT (3 mi away); precipitation: Salisbury 2 N, VT (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

057695a
Salisbury, VT · 3 mi
057535a
Middlebury, VT · 4 mi
057665a
Ripton, VT · 5 mi
057785a
Whiting, VT · 9 mi
054725a
New Haven, VT · 10 mi
057455a
Forest Dale, VT · 10 mi
057485a
Hancock, VT · 10 mi
057345a
Bridport, VT · 11 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05740

What planting zone is ZIP code 05740?

ZIP code 05740 (East Middlebury, 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 East Middlebury, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05740 is May 21; after June 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salisbury 2 N station.

When is the first frost in East Middlebury, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05740 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 127 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05740?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 26 – Apr 9 and set transplants outside around May 28 – Jun 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05740 get?

About 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 73 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salisbury 2 N station).

How hot do summers get in East Middlebury, VT?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05740 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Stetson at the center of ZIP 05740: gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 05740 came on Apr 14 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Middlebury, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05740 is 15 h 29 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).