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

Planting zone for 12842 — Indian Lake, NY

ZIP code 12842 (Indian Lake, Hamilton County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 12842 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 23
First frostSep 27
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Indian 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 Indian Lake, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 12
Growing season125 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 9 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Indian Lake 2sw, NY — 2 miles away, elevation 1,670 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 12842

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 12842 came on Apr 17 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 30).

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 4b in New York

526 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 60

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 99

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 hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 183

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 166

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 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Indian Lake, NY.

Soil in Indian Lake, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12842 is Becket — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Becket-Tunbridge-Skerry complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes, rocky, very bouldery.

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 12842; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Indian Lake, NY

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights187nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,541base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall102 inper year; 128 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 25 °F, low 6 °F 25°6° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 7 °F 28°7° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° MarApril: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JulAugust: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 14 °F 31°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.03 in precipitation, 23.4 in snowfall 3.0❄23 JanFebruary: 2.52 in precipitation, 22.8 in snowfall 2.5❄23 FebMarch: 3.16 in precipitation, 18 in snowfall 3.2❄18 MarApril: 3.70 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.7❄5 AprMay: 3.93 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.9 MayJune: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.51 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.5❄1 OctNovember: 3.47 in precipitation, 8.2 in snowfall 3.5❄8 NovDecember: 3.41 in precipitation, 23.2 in snowfall 3.4❄23 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Indian Lake 2sw, NY (2 mi away); precipitation: Indian Lake 2sw, NY (2 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.

128644b
Sabael, NY · 1 mi
128564b
North River, NY · 8 mi
121644b
Speculator, NY · 10 mi
128534b
North Creek, NY · 11 mi
128124a
Blue Mountain Lake, NY · 12 mi
128514b
Minerva, NY · 12 mi
128114b
Bakers Mills, NY · 15 mi
121904b
Wells, NY · 17 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12842

What planting zone is ZIP code 12842?

ZIP code 12842 (Indian Lake, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Indian Lake, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12842 is May 23; after June 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Indian Lake 2sw station.

When is the first frost in Indian Lake, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12842 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 125 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12842?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12842 get?

About 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 102 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Indian Lake 2sw station).

How hot do summers get in Indian Lake, NY?

The average high peaks at 75 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12842 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 12842: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 12842 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Indian Lake, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12842 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).