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

Planting zone for 12078 — Gloversville, NY

ZIP code 12078 (Gloversville, Fulton County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 12078 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 11
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gloversville, 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 Gloversville, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season143 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake), NY — 4 miles away, elevation 1,457 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 12078

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
BeansSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 12078 came on Apr 17 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 5a in New York

584 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

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 116

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 201

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 179

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 Gloversville, NY.

Soil in Gloversville, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12078 is Becket — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Becket-Tunbridge complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, rocky, very bouldery.

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 12078; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gloversville, NY

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights179nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,692base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation50.7 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 25 °F, low 7 °F 25°7° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 8 °F 27°8° FebMarch: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JulAugust: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° SepOctober: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 16 °F 30°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake), NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake), 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.

121175a
Mayfield, NY · 5 mi
120955b
Johnstown, NY · 8 mi
121345a
Northville, NY · 10 mi
120705b
Fort Johnson, NY · 11 mi
120255a
Broadalbin, NY · 11 mi
120685b
Fonda, NY · 13 mi
121775b
Tribes Hill, NY · 13 mi
120695b
Fort Hunter, NY · 13 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12078

What planting zone is ZIP code 12078?

ZIP code 12078 (Gloversville, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Gloversville, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12078 is May 11; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake) station.

When is the first frost in Gloversville, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12078 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 143 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12078?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 16 – Mar 30 and set transplants outside around May 18 – Jun 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12078 get?

About 50.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake) station).

How hot do summers get in Gloversville, NY?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12078 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 12078: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Gloversville, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12078 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gloversville, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12078 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).