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

Planting zone for 12803 — South Glens Falls, NY

ZIP code 12803 (South Glens Falls, Saratoga County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 12803 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 17
First frostSep 29
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 South Glens Falls, 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 South Glens Falls, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Glens Falls Farm, NY — 4 miles away, elevation 505 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 12803

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 12803 came on Apr 12 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 South Glens Falls, NY.

Soil in South Glens Falls, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12803 is Windsor — moderately decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Windsor loamy sand, 0 to 3 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 12803; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in South Glens Falls, NY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights158nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,285base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.6 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 31 °F, low 6 °F 31°6° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 7 °F 34°7° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 18 °F 44°18° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 30 °F 58°30° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 42 °F 71°42° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 52 °F 79°52° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 57 °F 84°57° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 46 °F 74°46° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 24 °F 48°24° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 JanFebruary: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 NovDecember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Glens Falls Farm, NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Glens Falls Farm, NY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

128015a
Glens Falls, NY · 2 mi
128045a
Queensbury, NY · 4 mi
128285a
Fort Edward, NY · 4 mi
128395a
Hudson Falls, NY · 6 mi
128315b
Gansevoort, NY · 7 mi
128095a
Argyle, NY · 9 mi
128465a
Lake Luzerne, NY · 9 mi
128455a
Lake George, NY · 10 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12803

What planting zone is ZIP code 12803?

ZIP code 12803 (South Glens Falls, 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 South Glens Falls, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12803 is May 17; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glens Falls Farm station.

When is the first frost in South Glens Falls, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12803 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12803?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12803 get?

About 46.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glens Falls Farm station).

How hot do summers get in South Glens Falls, NY?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12803 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Windsor at the center of ZIP 12803: moderately decomposed plant material, excessively drained.

Did spring come early in South Glens Falls, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12803 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in South Glens Falls, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12803 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).