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

Planting zone for 13301 — Alder Creek, NY

ZIP code 13301 (Alder Creek, Oneida County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 13301 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 10
First frostOct 4
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alder Creek, 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 Alder Creek, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Boonville 4 Ssw, NY — 8 miles away, elevation 1,549 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 13301

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
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 10) 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 13301 came on Apr 16 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22).

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 5a in New York

584 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

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 116

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 201

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 179

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 7

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 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 Alder Creek, NY.

Soil in Alder Creek, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13301 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-Skerry complex, 3 to 8 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 13301; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alder Creek, NY

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,759base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation58.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall164 inper year; 128 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 25 °F, low 8 °F 25°8° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 9 °F 27°9° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 56 °F 75°56° JulAugust: average high 74 °F, low 55 °F 74°55° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 48 °F 67°48° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 37 °F 54°37° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 16 °F 30°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 4.92 in precipitation, 39.7 in snowfall 4.9❄40 JanFebruary: 3.97 in precipitation, 39.2 in snowfall 4.0❄39 FebMarch: 4.15 in precipitation, 26.7 in snowfall 4.2❄27 MarApril: 4.56 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 4.6❄6 AprMay: 4.64 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.6 MayJune: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 AugSeptember: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 6.11 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 6.1❄1 OctNovember: 5.04 in precipitation, 15.5 in snowfall 5.0❄16 NovDecember: 5.27 in precipitation, 35.1 in snowfall 5.3❄35 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Boonville 4 Ssw, NY (8 mi away); precipitation: Boonville 4 Ssw, NY (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

134385a
Remsen, NY · 6 mi
133095a
Boonville, NY · 7 mi
134865a
Westernville, NY · 8 mi
134944b
Woodgate, NY · 8 mi
134355a
Prospect, NY · 9 mi
133525a
Hinckley, NY · 9 mi
133545a
Holland Patent, NY · 11 mi
134334b
Port Leyden, NY · 12 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13301

What planting zone is ZIP code 13301?

ZIP code 13301 (Alder Creek, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Alder Creek, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13301 is May 10; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boonville 4 Ssw station.

When is the first frost in Alder Creek, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13301 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13301?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 13301 get?

About 58.2 inches of precipitation a year and 164 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boonville 4 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Alder Creek, NY?

The average high peaks at 75 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13301 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 13301: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Alder Creek, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 13301 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alder Creek, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13301 is 15 h 25 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 13301 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 13301 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.