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

Planting zone for 14008 — Appleton, NY

ZIP code 14008 (Appleton, Niagara County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 26.

Where ZIP 14008 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 26
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Appleton, 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 Appleton, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Lockport 4e, NY — 9 miles away, elevation 610 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 14008

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 14008 came on Apr 12 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 6b in New York

641 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 130

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 217

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 192

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 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Appleton, NY.

Soil in Appleton, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14008 is Appleton — gravelly loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Appleton gravelly 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 14008; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Appleton, NY

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,757base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 24 °F 38°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.79 in precipitation 1.8 JanFebruary: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 FebMarch: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 MarApril: 2.96 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 JunJuly: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 2.56 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 NovDecember: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lockport 4e, NY (9 mi away); precipitation: Newfane 1w, NY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

140286b
Burt, NY · 5 mi
140126b
Barker, NY · 5 mi
141266b
Olcott, NY · 6 mi
141086b
Newfane, NY · 6 mi
140676b
Gasport, NY · 8 mi
141726b
Wilson, NY · 10 mi
140956b
Lockport, NY · 10 mi
140946b
Lockport, NY · 11 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14008

What planting zone is ZIP code 14008?

ZIP code 14008 (Appleton, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Appleton, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14008 is April 26; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lockport 4e station.

When is the first frost in Appleton, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14008 is October 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14008?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 14008 get?

About 32.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newfane 1w station).

How hot do summers get in Appleton, NY?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14008 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Appleton at the center of ZIP 14008: gravelly loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Appleton, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14008 came on Apr 12 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Appleton, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14008 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).