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

Planting zone for 10959 — New Milford, NY

ZIP code 10959 (New Milford, Orange County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 10959 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 12
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for New Milford, 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 New Milford, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Sussex Airport, NJ — 11 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 10959

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 10959 came on Apr 2 — 5 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 New Milford, NY.

Soil in New Milford, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 10959 is Hoosic — gravelly sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Hoosic gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 8 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 10959; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Milford, NY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights135nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,806base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48.1 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 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sussex Airport, NJ (11 mi away); precipitation: Warwick 3.2 Wnw, NY (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

109906b
Warwick, NY · 3 mi
074186b
Glenwood, NJ · 4 mi
074226b
Highland Lakes, NJ · 5 mi
074626b
Vernon, NJ · 5 mi
074216b
Hewitt, NJ · 5 mi
109126b
Bellvale, NY · 5 mi
109696b
Pine Island, NY · 6 mi
109796b
Sterling Forest, NY · 6 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 10959

What planting zone is ZIP code 10959?

ZIP code 10959 (New Milford, 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 New Milford, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 10959 is May 1; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sussex Airport station.

When is the first frost in New Milford, NY?

The median first fall frost near 10959 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 10959?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 10959 get?

About 48.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Warwick 3.2 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in New Milford, NY?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 10959 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hoosic at the center of ZIP 10959: gravelly sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in New Milford, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 10959 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in New Milford, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 10959 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 10959 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 10959 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.