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

Planting zone for 05829 — Derby, VT

ZIP code 05829 (Derby, Orleans County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 05829 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 14
First frostSep 30
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Derby, 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 Derby, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season138 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Newport, VT — 6 miles away, elevation 791 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 05829

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
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 14) 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 05829 came on Apr 26 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29).

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 4a in Vermont

379 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Vermont, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 46

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 67

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 133

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 120

arctic 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 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 4

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 °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 Derby, VT.

Soil in Derby, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05829 is Vershire — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Vershire-Glover complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very 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 05829; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Derby, VT

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights171nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,880base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall99 inper year; 119 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 4 °F 23°4° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 5 °F 27°5° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 15 °F 37°15° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 14 °F 29°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.83 in precipitation, 21.5 in snowfall 2.8❄22 JanFebruary: 2.44 in precipitation, 20.2 in snowfall 2.4❄20 FebMarch: 2.83 in precipitation, 19.4 in snowfall 2.8❄19 MarApril: 3.34 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.3❄5 AprMay: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.29 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.3❄1 OctNovember: 3.35 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 3.4❄7 NovDecember: 3.40 in precipitation, 25.2 in snowfall 3.4❄25 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Newport, VT (6 mi away); precipitation: Newport, VT (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

058304a
Derby Line, VT · 4 mi
058234b
Beebe Plain, VT · 4 mi
058554b
Newport, VT · 7 mi
058724a
West Charleston, VT · 7 mi
058534a
Morgan, VT · 8 mi
058334a
East Charleston, VT · 10 mi
058604b
Orleans, VT · 12 mi
058254b
Coventry, VT · 12 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05829

What planting zone is ZIP code 05829?

ZIP code 05829 (Derby, VT) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Derby, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05829 is May 14; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newport station.

When is the first frost in Derby, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05829 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 138 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05829?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05829 get?

About 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 99 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newport station).

How hot do summers get in Derby, VT?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05829 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Vershire at the center of ZIP 05829: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Derby, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05829 came on Apr 26 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Derby, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05829 is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).