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

Planting zone for 11790 — Stony Brook, NY

ZIP code 11790 (Stony Brook, Suffolk County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 11790 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 15
First frostNov 10
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 Stony Brook, 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 Stony Brook, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season208 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 21.

From the NOAA station Setauket Strong, NY — 4 miles away, elevation 39 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 11790

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 11790 came on Mar 27 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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 Stony Brook, NY.

Soil in Stony Brook, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11790 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 11790; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stony Brook, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights96nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,245base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 26 °F 40°26° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 60 °F 78°60° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 66 °F 83°66° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 60 °F 75°60° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 49 °F 64°49° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 39 °F 53°39° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 31 °F 45°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 MarApril: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Setauket Strong, NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Nesconset 1.4 Ssw, NY (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

117807b
Saint James, NY · 2 mi
117337b
East Setauket, NY · 2 mi
117557b
Lake Grove, NY · 3 mi
117207b
Centereach, NY · 4 mi
117677b
Nesconset, NY · 4 mi
117767b
Port Jefferson Station, NY · 4 mi
117777b
Port Jefferson, NY · 5 mi
117847b
Selden, NY · 5 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 11790

What planting zone is ZIP code 11790?

ZIP code 11790 (Stony Brook, 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 Stony Brook, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11790 is April 15; after May 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Setauket Strong station.

When is the first frost in Stony Brook, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11790 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 208 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11790?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 11790 get?

About 48.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nesconset 1.4 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Stony Brook, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 11790 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Riverhead at the center of ZIP 11790: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Stony Brook, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11790 came on Mar 27 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stony Brook, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11790 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 11790 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 11790 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.