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

Planting zone for 10940 — Middletown, NY

ZIP code 10940 (Middletown, Orange County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 10940 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 21
First frostOct 22
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Middletown, NY…

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 Middletown, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Middletown 2 Nw, NY — 2 miles away, elevation 699 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 10940

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 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 10940 came on Apr 1 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 6b in New York

641 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 130

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 holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 217

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 192

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Middletown, NY.

Soil in Middletown, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 10940 is Erie — gravelly silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Erie extremely stony soils, gently sloping.

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 10940; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Middletown, NY

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights123nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,813base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 43 °F 62°43° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 33 °F 50°33° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.59 in precipitation 2.6 JanFebruary: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 MarApril: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Middletown 2 Nw, NY (2 mi away); precipitation: Middletown 2 Nw, NY (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

109326b
Howells, NY · 3 mi
109636b
Otisville, NY · 3 mi
109736b
Slate Hill, NY · 5 mi
109586b
New Hampton, NY · 5 mi
109336b
Johnson, NY · 6 mi
109196b
Circleville, NY · 7 mi
109416b
Middletown, NY · 8 mi
127296b
Cuddebackville, NY · 8 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Middletown → · New York planting zones →

Questions about 10940

What planting zone is ZIP code 10940?

ZIP code 10940 (Middletown, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Middletown, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 10940 is April 21; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Middletown 2 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Middletown, NY?

The median first fall frost near 10940 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 10940?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 10940 get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Middletown 2 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Middletown, NY?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 10940 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Erie at the center of ZIP 10940: gravelly silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Middletown, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 10940 came on Apr 1 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Middletown, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 10940 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).