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

Planting zone for 11940 — East Moriches, NY

ZIP code 11940 (East Moriches, Suffolk County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 28.

Where ZIP 11940 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 28
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for East Moriches, 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 East Moriches, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season193 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY — 6 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 11940

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 11940 came on Apr 3 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 East Moriches, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11940 is Riverhead — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
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 11940; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Moriches, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights104nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,060base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 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)
Precipitation44.2 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 24 °F 39°24° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 31 °F 47°31° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 60 °F 77°60° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 66 °F 83°66° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 65 °F 81°65° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 57 °F 74°57° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 46 °F 64°46° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 37 °F 54°37° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 MarApril: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY (6 mi away); precipitation: Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

119347a
Center Moriches, NY · 2 mi
119417a
Eastport, NY · 2 mi
119607a
Remsenburg, NY · 3 mi
119727a
Speonk, NY · 3 mi
119557a
Moriches, NY · 4 mi
119777a
Westhampton, NY · 4 mi
119497a
Manorville, NY · 5 mi
119507a
Mastic, NY · 5 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 11940

What planting zone is ZIP code 11940?

ZIP code 11940 (East Moriches, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in East Moriches, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11940 is April 18; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shirley Brookhaven Airport station.

When is the first frost in East Moriches, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11940 is October 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 193 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11940?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 11940 get?

About 44.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shirley Brookhaven Airport station).

How hot do summers get in East Moriches, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 11940 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Riverhead at the center of ZIP 11940: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in East Moriches, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11940 came on Apr 3 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Moriches, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11940 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).