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

Planting zone for 12934 — Ellenburg Center, NY

ZIP code 12934 (Ellenburg Center, Clinton County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 12934 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 10
First frostOct 2
2012 zone4b

Was 4b 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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ellenburg Center, 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 Ellenburg Center, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Ellenburg Depot, NY — 7 miles away, elevation 951 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 12934

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 12934 came on Apr 19 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26).

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 Ellenburg Center, NY.

Soil in Ellenburg Center, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12934 is Monadnock — highly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureHighly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter60%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Monadnock-Tunbridge-Sabattis complex, 0 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 12934; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ellenburg Center, NY

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights169nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,052base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 36 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall107 inper year; 109 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 26 °F, low 7 °F 26°7° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 9 °F 28°9° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.88 in precipitation, 21.4 in snowfall 1.9❄21 JanFebruary: 1.65 in precipitation, 23.1 in snowfall 1.6❄23 FebMarch: 2.12 in precipitation, 19 in snowfall 2.1❄19 MarApril: 2.79 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 2.8❄10 AprMay: 3.33 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.3❄1 MayJune: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.71 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.7❄2 OctNovember: 2.54 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 2.5❄8 NovDecember: 2.45 in precipitation, 23.5 in snowfall 2.5❄24 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ellenburg Depot, NY (7 mi away); precipitation: Ellenburg Depot, NY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

129355a
Ellenburg Depot, NY · 4 mi
129554b
Lyon Mountain, NY · 4 mi
129334b
Ellenburg, NY · 6 mi
129524b
Lyon Mountain, NY · 7 mi
129154b
Brainardsville, NY · 9 mi
129295a
Dannemora, NY · 10 mi
129235a
Churubusco, NY · 10 mi
129205a
Chateaugay, NY · 11 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12934

What planting zone is ZIP code 12934?

ZIP code 12934 (Ellenburg Center, 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 Ellenburg Center, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12934 is May 10; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ellenburg Depot station.

When is the first frost in Ellenburg Center, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12934 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12934?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12934 get?

About 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 107 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ellenburg Depot station).

How hot do summers get in Ellenburg Center, NY?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12934 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Monadnock at the center of ZIP 12934: highly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Ellenburg Center, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12934 came on Apr 19 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ellenburg Center, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12934 is 15 h 36 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 12934 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 12934 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.