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

Planting zone for 12848 — Middle Falls, NY

ZIP code 12848 (Middle Falls, Washington County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 12848 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 6
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Middle 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 Middle Falls, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Buskirk, NY — 12 miles away, elevation 499 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 12848

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 12848 came on Apr 12 — about the same time as 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 5b in New York

609 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

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 120

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 208

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 185

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 Middle Falls, NY.

Soil in Middle Falls, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12848 is Hoosic — gravelly sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Hoosic gravelly sandy 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 12848; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Middle Falls, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,411base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.6 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 33 °F, low 11 °F 33°11° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 12 °F 36°12° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 20 °F 44°20° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Buskirk, NY (12 mi away); precipitation: Gansevoort 1.3 Wnw, NY (11 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.

128345b
Greenwich, NY · <1 mi
128845b
Victory Mills, NY · 3 mi
128715b
Schuylerville, NY · 4 mi
128235b
Cossayuna, NY · 8 mi
128165b
Cambridge, NY · 8 mi
121705b
Stillwater, NY · 10 mi
128095a
Argyle, NY · 10 mi
128315b
Gansevoort, NY · 11 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12848

What planting zone is ZIP code 12848?

ZIP code 12848 (Middle Falls, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Middle Falls, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12848 is May 6; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buskirk station.

When is the first frost in Middle Falls, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12848 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12848?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12848 get?

About 44.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gansevoort 1.3 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Middle Falls, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12848 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hoosic at the center of ZIP 12848: gravelly sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Middle Falls, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12848 came on Apr 12 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Middle Falls, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12848 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 12848 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 12848 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.