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

Planting zone for 12568 — Plattekill, NY

ZIP code 12568 (Plattekill, Ulster County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 12568 is

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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 11
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Plattekill, 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 Plattekill, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Walden 1 Ese, NY — 7 miles away, elevation 381 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 12568

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 12568 came on Apr 3 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 6b in New York

641 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 130

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 217

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 192

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 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Plattekill, NY.

Soil in Plattekill, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12568 is Bath — gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bath-Nassau-Rock outcrop complex, hilly.

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 12568; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Plattekill, NY

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights147nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,870base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 12 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)
Precipitation45.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall44 inper year; 58 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 16 °F 36°16° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 17 °F 39°17° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.98 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 3.0❄11 JanFebruary: 2.67 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 2.7❄11 FebMarch: 3.55 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 3.5❄11 MarApril: 3.69 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.7❄1 AprMay: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.23 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.2❄1 NovDecember: 3.63 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 3.6❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Walden 1 Ese, NY (7 mi away); precipitation: Walden 1 Ese, NY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

125486b
Modena, NY · 2 mi
125156b
Clintondale, NY · 3 mi
125426b
Marlboro, NY · 4 mi
125896b
Wallkill, NY · 4 mi
125476b
Milton, NY · 5 mi
125286b
Highland, NY · 7 mi
125256b
Gardiner, NY · 7 mi
125506b
Newburgh, NY · 7 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12568

What planting zone is ZIP code 12568?

ZIP code 12568 (Plattekill, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Plattekill, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12568 is April 29; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walden 1 Ese station.

When is the first frost in Plattekill, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12568 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12568?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12568 get?

About 45.4 inches of precipitation a year and 44 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walden 1 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Plattekill, NY?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12568 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bath at the center of ZIP 12568: gravelly silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Plattekill, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12568 came on Apr 3 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Plattekill, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12568 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 12568 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 12568 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.