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

Planting zone for 12986 — Tupper Lake, NY

ZIP code 12986 (Tupper Lake, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 12986 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 16
First frostSep 28
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 Tupper Lake, 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 Tupper Lake, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Tupper Lake Sunmount, NY — within 1 mile, elevation 1,680 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 12986

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 12986 came on Apr 16 — 10 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 Tupper Lake, NY.

Soil in Tupper Lake, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12986 is Becket — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Becket fine sandy loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes, 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 12986; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tupper Lake, NY

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,758base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation45 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 25 °F, low 4 °F 25°4° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 5 °F 29°5° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 JanFebruary: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 MarApril: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tupper Lake Sunmount, NY (within 1 mile); precipitation: Tupper Lake Sunmount, NY (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

129734a
Piercefield, NY · 8 mi
129454a
Lake Clear, NY · 11 mi
129704a
Paul Smiths, NY · 16 mi
129834a
Saranac Lake, NY · 17 mi
129774a
Ray Brook, NY · 17 mi
129464a
Lake Placid, NY · 19 mi
129394a
Gabriels, NY · 20 mi
136724a
Parishville, NY · 20 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12986

What planting zone is ZIP code 12986?

ZIP code 12986 (Tupper Lake, 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 Tupper Lake, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12986 is May 16; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tupper Lake Sunmount station.

When is the first frost in Tupper Lake, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12986 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12986?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12986 get?

About 45 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tupper Lake Sunmount station).

How hot do summers get in Tupper Lake, 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 12986 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 12986: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Tupper Lake, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12986 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tupper Lake, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12986 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).