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

Planting zone for 10973 — Slate Hill, NY

ZIP code 10973 (Slate Hill, 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 10973 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 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 Slate Hill, 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 Slate Hill, 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 — 6 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 10973

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 10973 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).

Soil in Slate Hill, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 10973 is Madalin — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Madalin silt loam.

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 10973; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Slate Hill, 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 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.1 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 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: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.48 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Middletown 2 Nw, NY (6 mi away); precipitation: Gardnerville, NY (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

109336b
Johnson, NY · 2 mi
109586b
New Hampton, NY · 3 mi
109406b
Middletown, NY · 5 mi
109986b
Westtown, NY · 5 mi
109696b
Pine Island, NY · 6 mi
109246b
Goshen, NY · 7 mi
109636b
Otisville, NY · 7 mi
109886b
Unionville, NY · 7 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 10973

What planting zone is ZIP code 10973?

ZIP code 10973 (Slate Hill, 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 Slate Hill, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 10973 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 Slate Hill, NY?

The median first fall frost near 10973 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 10973?

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 10973 get?

About 46.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gardnerville station).

How hot do summers get in Slate Hill, 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 10973 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Madalin at the center of ZIP 10973: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Slate Hill, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 10973 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 Slate Hill, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 10973 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 10973 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 10973 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.