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

Planting zone for 13680 — Rensselaer Falls, NY

ZIP code 13680 (Rensselaer Falls, St. Lawrence County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 13680 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 9
First frostSep 30
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer Falls, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Canton 4 Se, NY — 11 miles away, elevation 449 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 13680

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
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 9) 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 13680 came on Apr 16 — 4 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 4b in New York

526 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 60

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 99

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 183

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 166

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 5

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 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Rensselaer Falls, NY.

Soil in Rensselaer Falls, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13680 is Adjidaumo — silty clay, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter8%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Adjidaumo silty clay, 0 to 3 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 13680; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rensselaer Falls, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights161nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,278base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.7 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 27 °F, low 7 °F 27°7° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 8 °F 30°8° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 16 °F 34°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.71 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 2.34 in precipitation 2.3 MarApril: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Canton 4 Se, NY (11 mi away); precipitation: Ogdensburg 1.6 Sw, NY (10 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.

136304b
De Kalb Junction, NY · 7 mi
136545a
Heuvelton, NY · 8 mi
136774b
Pyrites, NY · 9 mi
136695a
Ogdensburg, NY · 9 mi
136174b
Canton, NY · 9 mi
136584b
Lisbon, NY · 11 mi
136334b
De Peyster, NY · 11 mi
136814b
Richville, NY · 12 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13680

What planting zone is ZIP code 13680?

ZIP code 13680 (Rensselaer Falls, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Rensselaer Falls, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13680 is May 9; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Canton 4 Se station.

When is the first frost in Rensselaer Falls, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13680 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 142 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13680?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 13680 get?

About 38.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ogdensburg 1.6 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Rensselaer Falls, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13680 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Adjidaumo at the center of ZIP 13680: silty clay, poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

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

Spring leaf-out near 13680 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rensselaer Falls, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13680 is 15 h 34 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).