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

Planting zone for 12749 — Kauneonga Lake, NY

ZIP code 12749 (Kauneonga Lake, Sullivan 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 5.

Where ZIP 12749 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 5
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 Kauneonga Lake, 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 Kauneonga Lake, 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 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Liberty 1 Ne, NY — 9 miles away, elevation 1,581 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 12749

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 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 12749 came on Apr 8 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 Kauneonga Lake, NY.

Soil in Kauneonga Lake, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12749 is Wellsboro — gravelly loam, moderately well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wellsboro gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes.

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 12749; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kauneonga Lake, NY

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,033base 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)
Precipitation53.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall70 inper year; 87 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 14 °F 33°14° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.68 in precipitation, 16.6 in snowfall 3.7❄17 JanFebruary: 2.78 in precipitation, 17.4 in snowfall 2.8❄17 FebMarch: 3.91 in precipitation, 12.8 in snowfall 3.9❄13 MarApril: 4.19 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 4.2❄3 AprMay: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 AugSeptember: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 4.75 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.8 OctNovember: 3.85 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 3.9❄4 NovDecember: 4.73 in precipitation, 15.3 in snowfall 4.7❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Liberty 1 Ne, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Liberty 1 Ne, NY (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

127786a
Smallwood, NY · 2 mi
127836a
Swan Lake, NY · 3 mi
127626a
Mongaup Valley, NY · 3 mi
127866a
White Lake, NY · 4 mi
127206a
Bethel, NY · 5 mi
127346a
Ferndale, NY · 5 mi
127426a
Harris, NY · 6 mi
127876a
White Sulphur Springs, NY · 7 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12749

What planting zone is ZIP code 12749?

ZIP code 12749 (Kauneonga Lake, 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 Kauneonga Lake, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12749 is May 9; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Liberty 1 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Kauneonga Lake, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12749 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12749?

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 12749 get?

About 53.1 inches of precipitation a year and 70 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Liberty 1 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Kauneonga Lake, NY?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12749 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wellsboro at the center of ZIP 12749: gravelly loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Kauneonga Lake, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12749 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Kauneonga Lake, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12749 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 12749 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 12749 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.