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

Planting zone for 13420 — Old Forge, NY

ZIP code 13420 (Old Forge, Herkimer County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 13420 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 18
First frostSep 30
2012 zone3b

Was 3b 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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Old Forge, 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 Old Forge, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Old Forge, NY — 4 miles away, elevation 1,749 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 13420

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 13420 came on Apr 17 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27).

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 Old Forge, NY.

Soil in Old Forge, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13420 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, 15 to 35 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 13420; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Old Forge, NY

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights183nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,673base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall158 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 26 °F, low 6 °F 26°6° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 7 °F 29°7° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° JulAugust: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 15 °F 31°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.31 in precipitation, 46.7 in snowfall 4.3❄47 JanFebruary: 3.21 in precipitation, 30.9 in snowfall 3.2❄31 FebMarch: 3.20 in precipitation, 22.6 in snowfall 3.2❄23 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 3.6❄5 AprMay: 4.45 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.5❄1 MayJune: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 5.15 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 5.2❄2 OctNovember: 4.21 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 4.2❄15 NovDecember: 4.09 in precipitation, 34.8 in snowfall 4.1❄35 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

134724a
Thendara, NY · 4 mi
133384b
Forestport, NY · 9 mi
133124b
Brantingham, NY · 10 mi
134944b
Woodgate, NY · 11 mi
133314a
Eagle Bay, NY · 12 mi
134334b
Port Leyden, NY · 12 mi
133454b
Greig, NY · 16 mi
133684b
Lyons Falls, NY · 16 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13420

What planting zone is ZIP code 13420?

ZIP code 13420 (Old Forge, 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 Old Forge, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13420 is May 18; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Old Forge station.

When is the first frost in Old Forge, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13420 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13420?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 13420 get?

About 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 158 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Old Forge station).

How hot do summers get in Old Forge, NY?

The average high peaks at 75 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13420 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Becket at the center of ZIP 13420: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Old Forge, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 13420 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Old Forge, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13420 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 13420 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 13420 in zone 3b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.