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

Planting zone for 05906 — Lunenburg, VT

ZIP code 05906 (Lunenburg, Essex County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 05906 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 18
First frostSep 30
2012 zone4a

Was 4a 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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lunenburg, 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 Lunenburg, VT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Lancaster, NH — 7 miles away, elevation 860 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 05906

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
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 18) 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 05906 came on Apr 18 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27).

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 Lunenburg, VT.

Soil in Lunenburg, VT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 05906 is Peru — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Peru-Colonel complex, 15 to 35 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 05906; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lunenburg, VT

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights188nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,840base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 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)
Precipitation45 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 28 °F 52°28° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 39 °F 66°39° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 MarApril: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lancaster, NH (7 mi away); precipitation: Lunenburg 2.3 Nnw, VT (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

059044b
Gilman, VT · 5 mi
058584b
North Concord, VT · 5 mi
058244b
Concord, VT · 6 mi
058404b
Granby, VT · 8 mi
035984b
Whitefield, NH · 8 mi
035844b
Lancaster, NH · 9 mi
035614b
Littleton, NH · 10 mi
058494b
Lyndon, VT · 11 mi

Vermont planting zones →

Questions about 05906

What planting zone is ZIP code 05906?

ZIP code 05906 (Lunenburg, 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 Lunenburg, VT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 05906 is May 18; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster station.

When is the first frost in Lunenburg, VT?

The median first fall frost near 05906 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 132 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 05906?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 05906 get?

About 45 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lunenburg 2.3 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Lunenburg, VT?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 05906 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Peru at the center of ZIP 05906: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lunenburg, VT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 05906 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lunenburg, VT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 05906 is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 05906 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 05906 in zone 4a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.