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

Planting zone for 12309 — Schenectady, NY

ZIP code 12309 (Schenectady, Schenectady County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 12309 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 27
First frostOct 15
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Schenectady, 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 Schenectady, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Albany Airport, NY — 5 miles away, elevation 312 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 12309

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 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 12309 came on Apr 11 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 6a in New York

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 129

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 215

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 189

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 8

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 creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Schenectady, NY.

Soil in Schenectady, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12309 is Claverack — loamy fine sand, moderately well drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Claverack loamy fine sand, 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 12309; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Schenectady, NY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,886base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 01 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
Snowfall59 inper year; 57 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 16 °F 33°16° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 23 °F 38°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.60 in precipitation, 15.6 in snowfall 2.6❄16 JanFebruary: 2.28 in precipitation, 13.7 in snowfall 2.3❄14 FebMarch: 3.09 in precipitation, 12 in snowfall 3.1❄12 MarApril: 3.11 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.1❄2 AprMay: 3.41 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 MayJune: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.85 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.9 OctNovember: 2.99 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.0❄3 NovDecember: 3.26 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 3.3❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Albany Airport, NY (5 mi away); precipitation: Albany Airport, NY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

121486a
Rexford, NY · 2 mi
123046a
Schenectady, NY · 2 mi
123086a
Schenectady, NY · 3 mi
123076a
Schenectady, NY · 3 mi
123016a
Schenectady, NY · 4 mi
123456a
Schenectady, NY · 4 mi
120086a
Alplaus, NY · 4 mi
123056a
Schenectady, NY · 4 mi

All 11 ZIP codes in Schenectady → · New York planting zones →

Questions about 12309

What planting zone is ZIP code 12309?

ZIP code 12309 (Schenectady, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Schenectady, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12309 is April 27; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albany Airport station.

When is the first frost in Schenectady, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12309 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12309?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12309 get?

About 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 59 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albany Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Schenectady, NY?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12309 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Claverack at the center of ZIP 12309: loamy fine sand, moderately well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Schenectady, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12309 came on Apr 11 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Schenectady, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12309 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 12309 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 12309 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.