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

Planting zone for 11706 — Bay Shore, NY

ZIP code 11706 (Bay Shore, Suffolk County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost November 11.

Where ZIP 11706 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 4
First frostNov 11
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bay Shore, 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 Bay Shore, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season219 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 24 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Molloy Cercom, NY — 8 miles away, elevation 7 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 11706

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 11) 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 11706 came on Mar 31 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 Bay Shore, NY.

Soil in Bay Shore, NY

The center of ZIP 11706 is mapped as Fill land, dredged material: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 11706; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bay Shore, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights76nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,151base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 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)
Precipitation49.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 26 °F 39°26° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 27 °F 40°27° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 33 °F 46°33° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 43 °F 56°43° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 52 °F 64°52° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 63 °F 74°63° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 70 °F 80°70° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 69 °F 80°69° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 61 °F 73°61° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 50 °F 63°50° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 40 °F 53°40° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 32 °F 44°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 FebMarch: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 5.81 in precipitation 5.8 AugSeptember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Molloy Cercom, NY (8 mi away); precipitation: Molloy Cercom, NY (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

117187b
Brightwaters, NY · 1 mi
117517b
Islip, NY · 2 mi
117957b
West Islip, NY · 3 mi
117307b
East Islip, NY · 3 mi
117397b
Great River, NY · 4 mi
117037b
North Babylon, NY · 5 mi
117527b
Islip Terrace, NY · 5 mi
117177b
Brentwood, NY · 5 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 11706

What planting zone is ZIP code 11706?

ZIP code 11706 (Bay Shore, 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 Bay Shore, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11706 is April 4; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Molloy Cercom station.

When is the first frost in Bay Shore, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11706 is November 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 219 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11706?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 7 – Feb 21 and set transplants outside around Apr 11 – Apr 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 11706 get?

About 49.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Molloy Cercom station).

How hot do summers get in Bay Shore, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Bay Shore, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11706 came on Mar 31 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bay Shore, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11706 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 11706 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 11706 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.