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

Planting zone for 13687 — South Colton, NY

ZIP code 13687 (South Colton, St. Lawrence County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 13687 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 5
First frostOct 8
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for South Colton, 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 South Colton, 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 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Colton 2 N, NY — 12 miles away, elevation 581 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 13687

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 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 13687 came on Apr 16 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24).

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 South Colton, NY.

Soil in South Colton, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13687 is Potsdam — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter60%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Potsdam-Tunbridge-Crary complex, 3 to 15 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 13687; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in South Colton, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,219base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation42 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 26 °F, low 6 °F 26°6° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 9 °F 29°9° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 18 °F 38°18° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.69 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Colton 2 N, NY (12 mi away); precipitation: Colton 2 N, NY (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

129224a
Childwold, NY · 5 mi
136254b
Colton, NY · 8 mi
136724a
Parishville, NY · 9 mi
136844b
Russell, NY · 10 mi
136474b
Hannawa Falls, NY · 14 mi
136764b
Potsdam, NY · 15 mi
129274a
Cranberry Lake, NY · 16 mi
136664a
Newton Falls, NY · 16 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13687

What planting zone is ZIP code 13687?

ZIP code 13687 (South Colton, 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 South Colton, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13687 is May 5; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Colton 2 N station.

When is the first frost in South Colton, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13687 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13687?

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 13687 get?

About 42 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Colton 2 N station).

How hot do summers get in South Colton, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13687 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Potsdam at the center of ZIP 13687: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in South Colton, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 13687 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in South Colton, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13687 is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).