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

Planting zone for 11954 — Montauk, NY

ZIP code 11954 (Montauk, Suffolk County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost November 15.

Where ZIP 11954 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 7
First frostNov 15
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Montauk, 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 Montauk, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 15median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season222 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 27.

From the NOAA station Montauk Airport, NY — 2 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 11954

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 20 – Oct 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 1 – Dec 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 15) 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 11954 came on Apr 3 — 5 days later than 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 Montauk, NY.

Soil in Montauk, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 11954 is Montauk — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Montauk loamy sand, 8 to 15 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 11954; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Montauk, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights74nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,013base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.3 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 28 °F 40°28° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 28 °F 41°28° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 33 °F 46°33° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 41 °F 55°41° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 50 °F 64°50° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 60 °F 74°60° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 66 °F 80°66° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 66 °F 80°66° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 60 °F 73°60° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 51 °F 63°51° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 42 °F 54°42° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 34 °F 45°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 NovDecember: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Montauk Airport, NY (2 mi away); precipitation: Montauk Airport, NY (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

119307b
Amagansett, NY · 9 mi
119377b
East Hampton, NY · 14 mi
119577b
Orient, NY · 14 mi
063907a
Fishers Island, NY · 17 mi
119757b
Wainscott, NY · 17 mi
063887a
West Mystic, CT · 21 mi
028077b
Block Island, RI · 21 mi
063407a
Groton, CT · 22 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 11954

What planting zone is ZIP code 11954?

ZIP code 11954 (Montauk, 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 Montauk, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 11954 is April 7; after April 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montauk Airport station.

When is the first frost in Montauk, NY?

The median first fall frost near 11954 is November 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 222 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 11954?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 10 – Feb 24 and set transplants outside around Apr 14 – Apr 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 11954 get?

About 44.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montauk Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Montauk, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 11954 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Montauk at the center of ZIP 11954: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Montauk, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 11954 came on Apr 3 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Montauk, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 11954 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).