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

Planting zone for 12474 — Roxbury, NY

ZIP code 12474 (Roxbury, Delaware County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 12474 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 18
First frostOct 2
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Roxbury, 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 Roxbury, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season137 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Lansing Manor, NY — 13 miles away, elevation 1,099 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 12474

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 12474 came on Apr 12 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 5a in New York

584 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

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 116

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 201

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 179

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 Roxbury, NY.

Soil in Roxbury, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12474 is Elka — 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 matter60%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Elka-Vly channery silt loams, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very stony.

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 12474; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Roxbury, NY

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,190base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48.1 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 33 °F, low 11 °F 33°11° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 12 °F 35°12° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 20 °F 43°20° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MarApril: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 AugSeptember: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lansing Manor, NY (13 mi away); precipitation: Hobart 4.8 Ese, NY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

124215b
Denver, NY · 3 mi
124385b
Halcottsville, NY · 5 mi
137885a
Hobart, NY · 5 mi
124595b
New Kingston, NY · 6 mi
124345b
Grand Gorge, NY · 7 mi
124305b
Fleischmanns, NY · 7 mi
137405a
Bovina Center, NY · 9 mi
138425b
South Kortright, NY · 9 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12474

What planting zone is ZIP code 12474?

ZIP code 12474 (Roxbury, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Roxbury, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12474 is May 18; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lansing Manor station.

When is the first frost in Roxbury, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12474 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 137 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12474?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12474 get?

About 48.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hobart 4.8 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Roxbury, NY?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12474 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Elka at the center of ZIP 12474: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Roxbury, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12474 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Roxbury, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12474 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).