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

Planting zone for 13365 — Little Falls, NY

ZIP code 13365 (Little Falls, Herkimer County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 13365 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 5
First frostOct 4
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 Little Falls, 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 Little Falls, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 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 26 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Little Falls City Rsch, NY — 3 miles away, elevation 892 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 13365

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
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 5) 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 13365 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 Little Falls, NY.

Soil in Little Falls, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13365 is Mohawk — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mohawk silt loam, shale substratum, 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 13365; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Little Falls, NY

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights164nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,275base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52 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 11 °F 30°11° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 FebMarch: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Little Falls City Rsch, NY (3 mi away); precipitation: Dolgeville 1.9 Nw, NY (3 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.

134065a
Middleville, NY · 5 mi
134545a
Salisbury Center, NY · 7 mi
133295a
Dolgeville, NY · 7 mi
133505b
Herkimer, NY · 7 mi
134165a
Newport, NY · 9 mi
134075b
Mohawk, NY · 10 mi
134525a
Saint Johnsville, NY · 12 mi
134705a
Stratford, NY · 12 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13365

What planting zone is ZIP code 13365?

ZIP code 13365 (Little Falls, 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 Little Falls, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13365 is May 5; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Little Falls City Rsch station.

When is the first frost in Little Falls, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13365 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13365?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 13365 get?

About 52 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dolgeville 1.9 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Little Falls, NY?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13365 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mohawk at the center of ZIP 13365: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Little Falls, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 13365 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 Little Falls, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13365 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).