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

Planting zone for 13363 — Lee Center, NY

ZIP code 13363 (Lee Center, Oneida County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 13363 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 6
First frostOct 13
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lee 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 Lee Center, 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 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Rome Griffiss Airfield, NY — 9 miles away, elevation 518 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 13363

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 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 13363 came on Apr 12 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 Lee Center, NY.

Soil in Lee Center, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13363 is Camroden — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Camroden silt loam, 3 to 8 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 13363; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lee Center, NY

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights147nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,432base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation58.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 41 °F 59°41° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 31 °F 47°31° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 FebMarch: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 AprMay: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 5.14 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 6.36 in precipitation 6.4 OctNovember: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 NovDecember: 5.81 in precipitation 5.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rome Griffiss Airfield, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Point Rock 0.6 Se, NY (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

133035a
Ava, NY · 3 mi
134715a
Taberg, NY · 6 mi
134495b
Rome, NY · 7 mi
134405b
Rome, NY · 9 mi
134865a
Westernville, NY · 9 mi
134894b
West Leyden, NY · 9 mi
134425b
Rome, NY · 9 mi
134415b
Rome, NY · 9 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13363

What planting zone is ZIP code 13363?

ZIP code 13363 (Lee Center, 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 Lee Center, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13363 is May 6; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rome Griffiss Airfield station.

When is the first frost in Lee Center, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13363 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13363?

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 13363 get?

About 58.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Point Rock 0.6 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Lee Center, NY?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13363 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Camroden at the center of ZIP 13363: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 13363 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lee Center, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13363 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).