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

Planting zone for 12961 — Moriah Center, NY

ZIP code 12961 (Moriah Center, Essex 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 17.

Where ZIP 12961 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 17
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 Moriah 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 Moriah Center, 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 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season168 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Vergennes, VT — 19 miles away, elevation 197 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 12961

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 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 12961 came on Apr 18 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 Moriah Center, NY.

Soil in Moriah Center, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12961 is Lyman — moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lyman-Knob Lock complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very 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 12961; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Moriah Center, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,520base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall64 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 10 °F 29°10° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 10 °F 32°10° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 20 °F 41°20° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.40 in precipitation, 13.1 in snowfall 2.4❄13 JanFebruary: 2.26 in precipitation, 17.2 in snowfall 2.3❄17 FebMarch: 2.79 in precipitation, 13.9 in snowfall 2.8❄14 MarApril: 3.13 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 3.1❄3 AprMay: 3.26 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 MayJune: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.69 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.7 OctNovember: 2.98 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.0❄4 NovDecember: 2.81 in precipitation, 12.2 in snowfall 2.8❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vergennes, VT (19 mi away); precipitation: Elizabethtown, 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.

129984b
Witherbee, NY · 2 mi
129604b
Moriah, NY · 3 mi
129644b
New Russia, NY · 5 mi
129565a
Mineville, NY · 6 mi
129745a
Port Henry, NY · 6 mi
129284b
Crown Point, NY · 7 mi
128554b
North Hudson, NY · 9 mi
129935a
Westport, NY · 10 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12961

What planting zone is ZIP code 12961?

ZIP code 12961 (Moriah Center, 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 Moriah Center, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12961 is April 30; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vergennes station.

When is the first frost in Moriah Center, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12961 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 168 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12961?

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 12961 get?

About 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 64 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elizabethtown station).

How hot do summers get in Moriah Center, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12961 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lyman at the center of ZIP 12961: moderately decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.0 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 12961 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Moriah Center, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12961 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).