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

Planting zone for 12195 — West Lebanon, NY

ZIP code 12195 (West Lebanon, Columbia County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 12195 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 5
First frostOct 5
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 West Lebanon, 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 West Lebanon, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Pittsfield Municipal Airport, MA — 10 miles away, elevation 1,194 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 12195

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 12195 came on Apr 11 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 West Lebanon, NY.

Soil in West Lebanon, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12195 is Stockbridge — 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 groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Stockbridge silt loam, 3 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 12195; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Lebanon, NY

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,169base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.2 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 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 MarApril: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pittsfield Municipal Airport, MA (10 mi away); precipitation: Pittsfield Municipal Airport, MA (10 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.

121255b
New Lebanon, NY · 3 mi
120245b
Brainard, NY · 4 mi
120625b
East Nassau, NY · 5 mi
120295b
Canaan, NY · 5 mi
120605b
East Chatham, NY · 5 mi
121366a
Old Chatham, NY · 7 mi
121156a
Malden Bridge, NY · 7 mi
121236a
Nassau, NY · 8 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12195

What planting zone is ZIP code 12195?

ZIP code 12195 (West Lebanon, 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 West Lebanon, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12195 is May 5; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pittsfield Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in West Lebanon, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12195 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12195?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12195 get?

About 44.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pittsfield Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in West Lebanon, NY?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12195 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Stockbridge at the center of ZIP 12195: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in West Lebanon, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12195 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in West Lebanon, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12195 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).