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

Planting zone for 14005 — Alexander, NY

ZIP code 14005 (Alexander, Genesee County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 14005 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 16
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alexander, 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 Alexander, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season165 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Batavia, NY — 9 miles away, elevation 912 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 14005

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 14005 came on Apr 9 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 6a in New York

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 129

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 215

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 189

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 8

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 creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Alexander, NY.

Soil in Alexander, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14005 is Ilion — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Ilion silt loam, 0 to 3 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 14005; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alexander, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights131nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,571base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall74 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 16 °F 31°16° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 17 °F 33°17° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 42 °F 60°42° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 22 °F 36°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.47 in precipitation, 23 in snowfall 2.5❄23 JanFebruary: 1.90 in precipitation, 18.6 in snowfall 1.9❄19 FebMarch: 2.43 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 2.4❄11 MarApril: 3.17 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.2❄2 AprMay: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.60 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 2.92 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 2.9❄6 NovDecember: 2.76 in precipitation, 13 in snowfall 2.8❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Batavia, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Batavia, NY (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

140206a
Batavia, NY · 6 mi
140566a
East Pembroke, NY · 6 mi
140396a
Dale, NY · 6 mi
140546a
East Bethany, NY · 6 mi
140216a
Batavia, NY · 6 mi
140116a
Attica, NY · 7 mi
140406a
Darien Center, NY · 7 mi
140366a
Corfu, NY · 8 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14005

What planting zone is ZIP code 14005?

ZIP code 14005 (Alexander, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Alexander, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14005 is May 3; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Batavia station.

When is the first frost in Alexander, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14005 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 165 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14005?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 14005 get?

About 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 74 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Batavia station).

How hot do summers get in Alexander, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14005 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ilion at the center of ZIP 14005: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Alexander, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14005 came on Apr 9 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alexander, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14005 is 15 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 14005 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 14005 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.