Planting zone for 12942 — Keene, NY
ZIP code 12942 (Keene, Essex County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost September 22.
Where ZIP 12942 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
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 ServiceLoading the forecast for Keene, 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 Keene, NY
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 13 and returns around October 3.
From the NOAA station Lake Placid 2 S, NY — 10 miles away, elevation 1,890 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 12942
Counted from the median last spring frost (May 27) and first fall frost (Sep 22) 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 12942 came on Apr 16 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).
Apr 232026
Apr 16
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).
Soil in Keene, NY
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12942 is Colton — slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained.
Map unit: Colton very gravelly loamy sand, 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 12942; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Keene, NY
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lake Placid 2 S, NY (10 mi away); precipitation: Lake Placid 2 S, NY (10 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.
Questions about 12942
What planting zone is ZIP code 12942?
ZIP code 12942 (Keene, 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 Keene, NY?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12942 is May 27; after June 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Placid 2 S station.
When is the first frost in Keene, NY?
The median first fall frost near 12942 is September 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 118 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 12942?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 1 – Apr 15 and set transplants outside around Jun 3 – Jun 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 12942 get?
About 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 104 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Placid 2 S station).
How hot do summers get in Keene, NY?
The average high peaks at 74 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 12942 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Colton at the center of ZIP 12942: slightly decomposed plant material, excessively drained.
Did spring come early in Keene, NY in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 12942 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Keene, NY?
Long-day onions: the longest day near 12942 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).