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

Planting zone for 12092 — Howes Cave, NY

ZIP code 12092 (Howes Cave, Schoharie County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 12092 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 9
First frostOct 4
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 Howes Cave, 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 Howes Cave, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season148 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Cobleskill 2 Ese, NY — 4 miles away, elevation 1,168 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 12092

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 12092 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).

Soil in Howes Cave, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12092 is Darien — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Darien silt loam, 2 to 8 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 12092; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Howes Cave, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights155nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,209base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year; 78 days with snow on the ground

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 33 °F, low 13 °F 33°13° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.45 in precipitation, 13.7 in snowfall 2.5❄14 JanFebruary: 2.15 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 2.1❄11 FebMarch: 3.08 in precipitation, 12.4 in snowfall 3.1❄12 MarApril: 3.36 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.4❄2 AprMay: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.93 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.9 OctNovember: 2.75 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.8❄2 NovDecember: 3.07 in precipitation, 13.1 in snowfall 3.1❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cobleskill 2 Ese, NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Cobleskill 2 Ese, NY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

120355b
Central Bridge, NY · 2 mi
121605b
Sloansville, NY · 4 mi
121575b
Schoharie, NY · 5 mi
120315b
Carlisle, NY · 6 mi
120665b
Esperance, NY · 6 mi
121875b
Warnerville, NY · 7 mi
120435b
Cobleskill, NY · 8 mi
120735b
Gallupville, NY · 8 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12092

What planting zone is ZIP code 12092?

ZIP code 12092 (Howes Cave, 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 Howes Cave, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12092 is May 9; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cobleskill 2 Ese station.

When is the first frost in Howes Cave, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12092 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 148 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12092?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12092 get?

About 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cobleskill 2 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Howes Cave, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12092 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Darien at the center of ZIP 12092: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Howes Cave, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12092 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 Howes Cave, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12092 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).