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

Planting zone for 11718 — Brightwaters, NY

ZIP code 11718 (Brightwaters, Suffolk County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 11718 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 6
First frostNov 6
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 Brightwaters, 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 Brightwaters, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season213 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Farmingdale Airport, NY — 8 miles away, elevation 82 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 11718

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 11718 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 Brightwaters, NY.

Soil in Brightwaters, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11718 is Riverhead — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Riverhead and Haven soils, graded, 0 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 11718; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Brightwaters, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights88nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,300base 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)
Precipitation38.3 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 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 33 °F 48°33° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 42 °F 58°42° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 51 °F 68°51° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 61 °F 77°61° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 68 °F 83°68° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 67 °F 82°67° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 60 °F 75°60° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 48 °F 64°48° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 38 °F 53°38° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 31 °F 44°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.69 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

117067b
Bay Shore, NY · 1 mi
117957b
West Islip, NY · 2 mi
117517b
Islip, NY · 3 mi
117037b
North Babylon, NY · 4 mi
117307b
East Islip, NY · 4 mi
117297b
Deer Park, NY · 5 mi
117177b
Brentwood, NY · 5 mi
117077b
West Babylon, NY · 5 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 11718

What planting zone is ZIP code 11718?

ZIP code 11718 (Brightwaters, 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 Brightwaters, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11718 is April 6; after April 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmingdale Airport station.

When is the first frost in Brightwaters, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11718 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 213 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11718?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 9 – Feb 23 and set transplants outside around Apr 13 – Apr 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 11718 get?

About 38.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmingdale Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Brightwaters, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 11718 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Riverhead at the center of ZIP 11718: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Brightwaters, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11718 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 Brightwaters, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11718 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 11718 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 11718 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.