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

Planting zone for 12859 — Porter Corners, NY

ZIP code 12859 (Porter Corners, Saratoga County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 12859 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 2
First frostOct 7
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 Porter Corners, 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 Porter Corners, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Saratoga Springs 4 Sw, NY — 9 miles away, elevation 325 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 12859

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 12859 came on Apr 16 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22).

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 Porter Corners, NY.

Soil in Porter Corners, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12859 is Bice — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bice loam, steep, stony.

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 12859; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Porter Corners, NY

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights144nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,829base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 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)
Precipitation46.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall64 inper year; 84 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 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 22 °F 37°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.41 in precipitation, 16.5 in snowfall 3.4❄17 JanFebruary: 2.65 in precipitation, 15.7 in snowfall 2.6❄16 FebMarch: 3.42 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 3.4❄11 MarApril: 3.78 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.8❄2 AprMay: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.14 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 OctNovember: 3.49 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 3.5❄3 NovDecember: 3.92 in precipitation, 15.1 in snowfall 3.9❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saratoga Springs 4 Sw, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Saratoga Springs 4 Sw, NY (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

128335b
Greenfield Center, NY · 3 mi
128225a
Corinth, NY · 5 mi
128505a
Middle Grove, NY · 5 mi
128635b
Rock City Falls, NY · 7 mi
128665b
Saratoga Springs, NY · 10 mi
120745a
Galway, NY · 10 mi
120205b
Ballston Spa, NY · 11 mi
128315b
Gansevoort, NY · 11 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12859

What planting zone is ZIP code 12859?

ZIP code 12859 (Porter Corners, 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 Porter Corners, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12859 is May 2; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saratoga Springs 4 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Porter Corners, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12859 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 158 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12859?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12859 get?

About 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 64 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saratoga Springs 4 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Porter Corners, NY?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12859 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bice at the center of ZIP 12859: loam, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Porter Corners, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12859 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Porter Corners, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12859 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).