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

Planting zone for 12878 — Stony Creek, NY

ZIP code 12878 (Stony Creek, Warren County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 12878 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 frostApr 30
First frostOct 16
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 Stony Creek, 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 Stony Creek, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Conklingville Dam, NY — 11 miles away, elevation 807 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 12878

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 12878 came on Apr 18 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27).

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 Stony Creek, NY.

Soil in Stony Creek, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12878 is Marlow — highly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureHighly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter50%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Marlow very bouldery fine sandy loam, steep.

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 12878; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stony Creek, NY

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,160base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall60 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 55 °F 73°55° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 60 °F 77°60° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 59 °F 76°59° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 51 °F 69°51° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 40 °F 57°40° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 31 °F 45°31° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 21 °F 34°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.48 in precipitation, 15.8 in snowfall 3.5❄16 JanFebruary: 2.89 in precipitation, 13.2 in snowfall 2.9❄13 FebMarch: 3.61 in precipitation, 14 in snowfall 3.6❄14 MarApril: 3.86 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 3.9❄2 AprMay: 3.94 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 MayJune: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 4.49 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.5 OctNovember: 3.45 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 3.5❄3 NovDecember: 4.06 in precipitation, 11.9 in snowfall 4.1❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Conklingville Dam, NY (11 mi away); precipitation: Conklingville Dam, NY (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

128104b
Athol, NY · 5 mi
128355a
Hadley, NY · 8 mi
128114b
Bakers Mills, NY · 8 mi
121904b
Wells, NY · 11 mi
128434b
Johnsburg, NY · 12 mi
128855a
Warrensburg, NY · 13 mi
121345a
Northville, NY · 15 mi
128864b
Wevertown, NY · 15 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12878

What planting zone is ZIP code 12878?

ZIP code 12878 (Stony Creek, 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 Stony Creek, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12878 is April 30; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Conklingville Dam station.

When is the first frost in Stony Creek, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12878 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12878?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12878 get?

About 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 60 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Conklingville Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Stony Creek, NY?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12878 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Marlow at the center of ZIP 12878: highly decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Stony Creek, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12878 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stony Creek, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12878 is 15 h 25 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).