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

Planting zone for 11953 — Middle Island, NY

ZIP code 11953 (Middle Island, Suffolk County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 11953 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 4
First frostNov 7
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 Middle Island, 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 Middle Island, 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 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season215 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 22.

From the NOAA station Mt Sinai, NY — 4 miles away, elevation 49 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 11953

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 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 11953 came on Apr 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

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 7a in New York

656 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 221

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 200

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 Middle Island, NY.

Soil in Middle Island, NY

The center of ZIP 11953 is mapped as Gravel pits: 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 11953; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Middle Island, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights79nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,534base 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)
Precipitation48.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 33 °F 50°33° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 61 °F 78°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 61 °F 75°61° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 49 °F 65°49° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 40 °F 56°40° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 32 °F 46°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Sinai, NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Mt Sinai, NY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

5 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

117647b
Miller Place, NY · 3 mi
117277b
Coram, NY · 3 mi
119617a
Ridge, NY · 3 mi
119737a
Upton, NY · 4 mi
117787b
Rocky Point, NY · 4 mi
119807a
Yaphank, NY · 4 mi
117667b
Mount Sinai, NY · 5 mi
117897b
Sound Beach, NY · 5 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 11953

What planting zone is ZIP code 11953?

ZIP code 11953 (Middle Island, 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 Middle Island, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11953 is April 4; after April 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Sinai station.

When is the first frost in Middle Island, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11953 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 215 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11953?

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 11953 get?

About 48.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Sinai station).

How hot do summers get in Middle Island, NY?

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

Did spring come early in Middle Island, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11953 came on Apr 1 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Middle Island, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11953 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).