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

Planting zone for 11215 — Brooklyn, NY

ZIP code 11215 (Brooklyn, Kings County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 19.

Where ZIP 11215 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 19
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season233 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 19 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Ny Ave V Brooklyn, NY — 5 miles away, elevation 20 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 11215

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 24 – Oct 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 5 – Dec 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 19) 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 11215 came on Mar 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20).

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 7b in New York

660 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 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

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 131

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 224

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 201

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 9

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 °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 Brooklyn, NY.

Soil in Brooklyn, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11215 is Greenbelt — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.67%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Greenbelt complex, 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 11215; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Brooklyn, NY

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights66nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,780base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation47.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall25 inper year; 19 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 28 °F 40°28° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 29 °F 42°29° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 35 °F 50°35° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 45 °F 61°45° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 54 °F 71°54° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 64 °F 79°64° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 70 °F 85°70° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 69 °F 83°69° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 62 °F 77°62° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 51 °F 65°51° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 41 °F 54°41° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 33 °F 45°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.53 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 3.5❄7 JanFebruary: 2.97 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 3.0❄9 FebMarch: 4.37 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 4.4❄4 MarApril: 3.85 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.9❄1 AprMay: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.23 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.2 NovDecember: 4.00 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 4.0❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ny Ave V Brooklyn, NY (5 mi away); precipitation: Ny Ave V Brooklyn, NY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

112327b
Brooklyn, NY · 1 mi
112387b
Brooklyn, NY · 1 mi
112177b
Brooklyn, NY · 1 mi
112317b
Brooklyn, NY · 1 mi
112187b
Brooklyn, NY · 1 mi
112257b
Brooklyn, NY · 2 mi
112267b
Brooklyn, NY · 2 mi
112197b
Brooklyn, NY · 2 mi

All 45 ZIP codes in Brooklyn → · New York planting zones →

Questions about 11215

What planting zone is ZIP code 11215?

ZIP code 11215 (Brooklyn, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Brooklyn, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11215 is April 1; after April 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ny Ave V Brooklyn station.

When is the first frost in Brooklyn, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11215 is November 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 233 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11215?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 4 – Feb 18 and set transplants outside around Apr 8 – Apr 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 11215 get?

About 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 25 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ny Ave V Brooklyn station).

How hot do summers get in Brooklyn, NY?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 11215 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Greenbelt at the center of ZIP 11215: loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Brooklyn, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11215 came on Mar 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Brooklyn, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11215 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).