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

Planting zone for 14217 — Buffalo, NY

ZIP code 14217 (Buffalo, Erie County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 14217 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 frostMay 6
First frostOct 15
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station N Tonawanda, NY — 6 miles away, elevation 577 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 14217

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 14217 came on Apr 9 — 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 Buffalo, NY.

Soil in Buffalo, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14217 is Schoharie — silty clay loam, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Schoharie complex, 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 14217; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Buffalo, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,582base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.9 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 17 °F 33°17° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 17 °F 36°17° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 23 °F 38°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 JanFebruary: 2.48 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 MarApril: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: N Tonawanda, NY (6 mi away); precipitation: Kenmore 0.8 Nw, NY (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

142236b
Buffalo, NY · 2 mi
142166b
Buffalo, NY · 2 mi
142076b
Buffalo, NY · 2 mi
141506b
Tonawanda, NY · 2 mi
142146b
Buffalo, NY · 3 mi
141516b
Tonawanda, NY · 3 mi
142226b
Buffalo, NY · 4 mi
142136b
Buffalo, NY · 4 mi

All 44 ZIP codes in Buffalo → · New York planting zones →

Questions about 14217

What planting zone is ZIP code 14217?

ZIP code 14217 (Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14217 is May 6; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Tonawanda station.

When is the first frost in Buffalo, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14217 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14217?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 14217 get?

About 40.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kenmore 0.8 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Buffalo, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14217 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Schoharie at the center of ZIP 14217: silty clay loam, moderately well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Buffalo, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14217 came on Apr 9 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 Buffalo, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14217 is 15 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 14217 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 14217 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.