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

Planting zone for 12952 — Lyon Mountain, NY

ZIP code 12952 (Lyon Mountain, Clinton County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 12952 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 frostMay 6
First frostOct 11
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 Lyon Mountain, 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 Lyon Mountain, 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 11median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Dannemora, NY — 9 miles away, elevation 1,339 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 12952

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 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 12952 came on Apr 21 — 5 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 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 Lyon Mountain, NY.

Soil in Lyon Mountain, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12952 is Hogback — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hogback-Ricker complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very rocky.

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 12952; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lyon Mountain, NY

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights158nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,253base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.4 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 28 °F, low 9 °F 28°9° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 16 °F 33°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.27 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 MarApril: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dannemora, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Dannemora, 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.

129554b
Lyon Mountain, NY · 5 mi
129814b
Saranac, NY · 6 mi
129345a
Ellenburg Center, NY · 7 mi
129784b
Redford, NY · 9 mi
129295a
Dannemora, NY · 9 mi
129694a
Owls Head, NY · 10 mi
129355a
Ellenburg Depot, NY · 11 mi
129185a
Cadyville, NY · 11 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Lyon Mountain → · New York planting zones →

Questions about 12952

What planting zone is ZIP code 12952?

ZIP code 12952 (Lyon Mountain, 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 Lyon Mountain, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12952 is May 6; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dannemora station.

When is the first frost in Lyon Mountain, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12952 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12952?

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 12952 get?

About 43.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dannemora station).

How hot do summers get in Lyon Mountain, NY?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12952 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hogback at the center of ZIP 12952: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 4.4 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lyon Mountain, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12952 came on Apr 21 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lyon Mountain, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12952 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).