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

Planting zone for 13690 — Star Lake, NY

ZIP code 13690 (Star Lake, St. Lawrence 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 28.

Where ZIP 13690 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 28
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 Star Lake, 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 Star Lake, 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 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Wanakena Rngr School, NY — 6 miles away, elevation 1,509 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 13690

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 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 13690 came on Apr 16 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 Star Lake, NY.

Soil in Star Lake, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13690 is Colton — gravelly loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureGravelly loamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Colton-Duxbury-Adams complex, 3 to 15 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 13690; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Star Lake, NY

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights181nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,005base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 5 °F 29°5° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 5 °F 31°5° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 13 °F 40°13° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 MarApril: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wanakena Rngr School, NY (6 mi away); precipitation: Wanakena Rngr School, NY (6 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.

136954a
Wanakena, NY · 5 mi
136704a
Oswegatchie, NY · 5 mi
136664a
Newton Falls, NY · 7 mi
136394b
Fine, NY · 11 mi
129274a
Cranberry Lake, NY · 11 mi
136484b
Harrisville, NY · 14 mi
136844b
Russell, NY · 15 mi
133274b
Croghan, NY · 17 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13690

What planting zone is ZIP code 13690?

ZIP code 13690 (Star Lake, 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 Star Lake, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13690 is May 18; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wanakena Rngr School station.

When is the first frost in Star Lake, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13690 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 132 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13690?

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 13690 get?

About 43.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wanakena Rngr School station).

How hot do summers get in Star Lake, NY?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13690 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Colton at the center of ZIP 13690: gravelly loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Star Lake, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 13690 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Star Lake, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13690 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).