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

Planting zone for 12522 — Dover Plains, NY

ZIP code 12522 (Dover Plains, Dutchess County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 12522 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 4
First frostOct 7
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Dover Plains, 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 Dover Plains, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Millbrook 3 W, NY — 9 miles away, elevation 413 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 12522

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
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 4) 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 12522 came on Apr 3 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 Dover Plains, NY.

Soil in Dover Plains, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12522 is Hollis — loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hollis-Chatfield-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 12522; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dover Plains, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights141nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,534base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 18 °F 38°18° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 2.96 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 SepOctober: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Millbrook 3 W, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Millbrook 3.2 Se, NY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

125946a
Wingdale, NY · 4 mi
125856a
Verbank, NY · 5 mi
125926a
Wassaic, NY · 5 mi
125456a
Millbrook, NY · 6 mi
067576a
Kent, CT · 7 mi
125706a
Poughquag, NY · 7 mi
125406a
Lagrangeville, NY · 7 mi
067856a
South Kent, CT · 8 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12522

What planting zone is ZIP code 12522?

ZIP code 12522 (Dover Plains, 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 Dover Plains, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12522 is May 4; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Millbrook 3 W station.

When is the first frost in Dover Plains, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12522 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12522?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12522 get?

About 49.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Millbrook 3.2 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Dover Plains, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12522 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hollis at the center of ZIP 12522: loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Dover Plains, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12522 came on Apr 3 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dover Plains, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12522 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).