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

Planting zone for 12069 — Fort Hunter, NY

ZIP code 12069 (Fort Hunter, Montgomery County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 12069 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 7
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Hunter, 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 Fort Hunter, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Delanson 2ne, NY — 14 miles away, elevation 984 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 12069

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 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 12069 came on Apr 12 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 5b in New York

609 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

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 120

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 208

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 185

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 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Fort Hunter, NY.

Soil in Fort Hunter, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12069 is Hamlin — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hamlin silt loam.

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 12069; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Hunter, NY

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,350base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 12 °F 31°12° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 13 °F 34°13° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Delanson 2ne, NY (14 mi away); precipitation: Fonda 5.2 W, NY (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

121775b
Tribes Hill, NY · <1 mi
120165b
Auriesville, NY · 2 mi
120705b
Fort Johnson, NY · 3 mi
120105b
Amsterdam, NY · 5 mi
120725b
Fultonville, NY · 6 mi
120685b
Fonda, NY · 6 mi
120865b
Hagaman, NY · 9 mi
121375b
Pattersonville, NY · 10 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12069

What planting zone is ZIP code 12069?

ZIP code 12069 (Fort Hunter, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Fort Hunter, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12069 is May 7; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Delanson 2ne station.

When is the first frost in Fort Hunter, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12069 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12069?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12069 get?

About 44.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fonda 5.2 W station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Hunter, NY?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12069 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hamlin at the center of ZIP 12069: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Fort Hunter, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12069 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Hunter, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12069 is 15 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).