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

Planting zone for 12464 — Phoenicia, NY

ZIP code 12464 (Phoenicia, Ulster County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 12464 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 6
First frostOct 7
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 Phoenicia, 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 Phoenicia, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Slide Mtn, NY — 5 miles away, elevation 2,651 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 12464

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 12464 came on Apr 5 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 Phoenicia, NY.

Soil in Phoenicia, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12464 is Arnot — moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

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

Map unit: Arnot-Oquaga-Rock outcrop complex, very steep.

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 12464; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Phoenicia, NY

Summer high74 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,671base 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)
Precipitation59.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 43 °F 62°43° MayJune: average high 69 °F, low 51 °F 69°51° JunJuly: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° JulAugust: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 48 °F 67°48° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 38 °F 55°38° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 19 °F 32°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JanFebruary: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 AprMay: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 5.71 in precipitation 5.7 AugSeptember: 5.87 in precipitation 5.9 SepOctober: 5.62 in precipitation 5.6 OctNovember: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 5.61 in precipitation 5.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Slide Mtn, NY (5 mi away); precipitation: Phonecia 2sw, NY (within 1 mile). 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.

124105b
Big Indian, NY · 4 mi
124166a
Chichester, NY · 4 mi
124126a
Boiceville, NY · 5 mi
124956a
Willow, NY · 5 mi
124805b
Shandaken, NY · 5 mi
124576a
Mount Tremper, NY · 5 mi
124486a
Lake Hill, NY · 8 mi
124505b
Lanesville, NY · 8 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12464

What planting zone is ZIP code 12464?

ZIP code 12464 (Phoenicia, 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 Phoenicia, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12464 is May 6; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Slide Mtn station.

When is the first frost in Phoenicia, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12464 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12464?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12464 get?

About 59.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Phonecia 2sw station).

How hot do summers get in Phoenicia, NY?

The average high peaks at 74 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12464 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Arnot at the center of ZIP 12464: moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Phoenicia, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12464 came on Apr 5 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Phoenicia, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12464 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 12464 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 12464 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.