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

Planting zone for 11552 — West Hempstead, NY

ZIP code 11552 (West Hempstead, Nassau County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 12.

Where ZIP 11552 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 2
First frostNov 12
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 West Hempstead, 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 West Hempstead, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 25.

From the NOAA station Mineola, NY — 3 miles away, elevation 95 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 11552

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 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 11552 came on Mar 24 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23).

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 West Hempstead, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11552 is Riverhead — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter90%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Riverhead sandy loam, 0 to 3 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 11552; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Hempstead, NY

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,682base 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)
Precipitation45.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall19 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 35 °F 51°35° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 43 °F 62°43° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 60 °F 78°60° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 49 °F 67°49° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 40 °F 56°40° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 33 °F 47°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.65 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 3.6❄3 JanFebruary: 3.00 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 3.0❄6 FebMarch: 4.41 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 4.4❄3 MarApril: 3.75 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.8 AprMay: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.35 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 4.18 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 4.2❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mineola, NY (3 mi away); precipitation: Mineola, NY (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

110107b
Franklin Square, NY · 1 mi
115657b
Malverne, NY · 1 mi
115507b
Hempstead, NY · 2 mi
115707b
Rockville Centre, NY · 2 mi
115517b
Hempstead, NY · 2 mi
115717b
Rockville Centre, NY · 2 mi
115307b
Garden City, NY · 3 mi
115637b
Lynbrook, NY · 3 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 11552

What planting zone is ZIP code 11552?

ZIP code 11552 (West Hempstead, 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 West Hempstead, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11552 is April 2; after April 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mineola station.

When is the first frost in West Hempstead, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11552 is November 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 224 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11552?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 5 – Feb 19 and set transplants outside around Apr 9 – Apr 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 11552 get?

About 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 19 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mineola station).

How hot do summers get in West Hempstead, NY?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 11552 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Riverhead at the center of ZIP 11552: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in West Hempstead, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11552 came on Mar 24 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in West Hempstead, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11552 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).