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

Planting zone for 12969 — Owls Head, NY

ZIP code 12969 (Owls Head, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 12969 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 4
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Owls Head, 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 Owls Head, 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 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Malone, NY — 14 miles away, elevation 879 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 12969

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 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 12969 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 4a in New York

452 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 56

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 79

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 160

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 144

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

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 °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 Owls Head, NY.

Soil in Owls Head, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12969 is Rawsonville — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rawsonville-Hogback complex, 15 to 35 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 12969; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Owls Head, NY

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,031base 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)
Precipitation39.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall98 inper year; 112 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 24 °F, low 6 °F 24°6° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 7 °F 27°7° FebMarch: average high 35 °F, low 17 °F 35°17° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 56 °F 75°56° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 38 °F 55°38° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 27 °F 43°27° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 15 °F 31°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.42 in precipitation, 22.7 in snowfall 2.4❄23 JanFebruary: 1.98 in precipitation, 20.2 in snowfall 2.0❄20 FebMarch: 2.37 in precipitation, 17 in snowfall 2.4❄17 MarApril: 3.31 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 3.3❄7 AprMay: 3.33 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.3 MayJune: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.30 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 4.3❄1 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 3.1❄9 NovDecember: 2.74 in precipitation, 20.6 in snowfall 2.7❄21 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Malone, NY (14 mi away); precipitation: Malone, NY (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

129534b
Malone, NY · 8 mi
129554b
Lyon Mountain, NY · 9 mi
129524b
Lyon Mountain, NY · 10 mi
129954b
Whippleville, NY · 10 mi
129154b
Brainardsville, NY · 10 mi
129894a
Vermontville, NY · 12 mi
129205a
Chateaugay, NY · 13 mi
129345a
Ellenburg Center, NY · 13 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12969

What planting zone is ZIP code 12969?

ZIP code 12969 (Owls Head, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Owls Head, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12969 is May 6; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Malone station.

When is the first frost in Owls Head, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12969 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12969?

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 12969 get?

About 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 98 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Malone station).

How hot do summers get in Owls Head, 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 12969 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rawsonville at the center of ZIP 12969: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Owls Head, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12969 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 Owls Head, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12969 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).