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

Planting zone for 12409 — Bearsville, NY

ZIP code 12409 (Bearsville, Ulster County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 12409 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 frostMay 9
First frostOct 4
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 Bearsville, 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 Bearsville, 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 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Platte Clove, NY — 7 miles away, elevation 2,031 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 12409

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 12409 came on Apr 5 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 Bearsville, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12409 is Oquaga — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Oquaga-Arnot-Rock outcrop complex, sloping.

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 12409; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bearsville, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,067base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation67.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall86 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 4.87 in precipitation, 19.9 in snowfall 4.9❄20 JanFebruary: 3.98 in precipitation, 20.7 in snowfall 4.0❄21 FebMarch: 5.66 in precipitation, 14.5 in snowfall 5.7❄15 MarApril: 5.20 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 5.2❄3 AprMay: 4.76 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.8 MayJune: 6.00 in precipitation 6.0 JunJuly: 5.47 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 6.26 in precipitation 6.3 AugSeptember: 6.34 in precipitation 6.3 SepOctober: 6.96 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 7.0❄2 OctNovember: 4.94 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 4.9❄5 NovDecember: 7.23 in precipitation, 20.5 in snowfall 7.2❄21 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Platte Clove, NY (7 mi away); precipitation: Platte Clove, NY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

124486a
Lake Hill, NY · 2 mi
124986a
Woodstock, NY · 3 mi
124336a
Glenford, NY · 4 mi
124576a
Mount Tremper, NY · 4 mi
124956a
Willow, NY · 5 mi
124816a
Shokan, NY · 6 mi
124916a
West Hurley, NY · 6 mi
124126a
Boiceville, NY · 6 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12409

What planting zone is ZIP code 12409?

ZIP code 12409 (Bearsville, 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 Bearsville, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12409 is May 9; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Platte Clove station.

When is the first frost in Bearsville, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12409 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12409?

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 12409 get?

About 67.7 inches of precipitation a year and 86 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Platte Clove station).

How hot do summers get in Bearsville, 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 12409 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Oquaga at the center of ZIP 12409: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bearsville, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12409 came on Apr 5 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bearsville, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12409 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 12409 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 12409 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.