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

Planting zone for 14721 — Ceres, NY

ZIP code 14721 (Ceres, Allegany County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 14721 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 11
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ceres, 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 Ceres, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Olean, NY — 10 miles away, elevation 1,421 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 14721

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 14721 came on Apr 6 — 7 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).

Soil in Ceres, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14721 is Buchanan — slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Buchanan silt loam, 15 to 25 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 14721; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ceres, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,261base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall103 inper year; 89 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 32 °F 57°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 21 °F 37°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.35 in precipitation, 26.7 in snowfall 3.4❄27 JanFebruary: 2.62 in precipitation, 17.4 in snowfall 2.6❄17 FebMarch: 3.42 in precipitation, 18.8 in snowfall 3.4❄19 MarApril: 3.91 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.9❄5 AprMay: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 4.40 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.4❄1 OctNovember: 3.62 in precipitation, 12.2 in snowfall 3.6❄12 NovDecember: 3.29 in precipitation, 22.6 in snowfall 3.3❄23 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Olean, NY (10 mi away); precipitation: Friendship 7 Sw, NY (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

147705b
Portville, NY · 2 mi
147545b
Little Genesee, NY · 3 mi
167315b
Eldred, PA · 7 mi
147885b
Westons Mills, NY · 7 mi
147155b
Bolivar, NY · 8 mi
147865b
West Clarksville, NY · 8 mi
147745b
Richburg, NY · 8 mi
167505b
Turtlepoint, PA · 8 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14721

What planting zone is ZIP code 14721?

ZIP code 14721 (Ceres, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Ceres, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14721 is May 7; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Olean station.

When is the first frost in Ceres, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14721 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14721?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 14721 get?

About 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 103 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Friendship 7 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Ceres, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14721 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Buchanan at the center of ZIP 14721: slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Ceres, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14721 came on Apr 6 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ceres, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14721 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 14721 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 14721 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.