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

Planting zone for 13081 — King Ferry, NY

ZIP code 13081 (King Ferry, Cayuga County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 13081 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 21
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for King Ferry, 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 King Ferry, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Aurora Rsch Farm, NY — 4 miles away, elevation 830 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 13081

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 13081 came on Apr 8 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 6a in New York

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 129

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 holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 215

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 189

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 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 King Ferry, NY.

Soil in King Ferry, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13081 is Kendaia — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Kendaia and Lyons soils, 0 to 3 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 13081; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in King Ferry, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights131nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,527base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall56 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 17 °F 31°17° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 17 °F 33°17° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 47 °F 67°47° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 42 °F 59°42° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 33 °F 47°33° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 24 °F 37°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.08 in precipitation, 15 in snowfall 2.1❄15 JanFebruary: 1.85 in precipitation, 12.7 in snowfall 1.9❄13 FebMarch: 2.63 in precipitation, 11.8 in snowfall 2.6❄12 MarApril: 3.26 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 3.3❄2 AprMay: 3.13 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.1 MayJune: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.80 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.8 OctNovember: 2.94 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 2.9❄4 NovDecember: 2.56 in precipitation, 10.5 in snowfall 2.6❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Aurora Rsch Farm, NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Aurora Rsch Farm, NY (4 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.

130716a
Genoa, NY · 4 mi
131396a
Poplar Ridge, NY · 5 mi
130266b
Aurora, NY · 5 mi
148826a
Lansing, NY · 7 mi
148476a
Interlaken, NY · 7 mi
131476a
Scipio Center, NY · 8 mi
145216b
Ovid, NY · 9 mi
130925b
Locke, NY · 10 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13081

What planting zone is ZIP code 13081?

ZIP code 13081 (King Ferry, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in King Ferry, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13081 is May 1; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Aurora Rsch Farm station.

When is the first frost in King Ferry, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13081 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13081?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 13081 get?

About 37 inches of precipitation a year and 56 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Aurora Rsch Farm station).

How hot do summers get in King Ferry, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13081 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kendaia at the center of ZIP 13081: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in King Ferry, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 13081 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in King Ferry, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13081 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).