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

Planting zone for 14729 — East Otto, NY

ZIP code 14729 (East Otto, Cattaraugus County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 14729 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 17
First frostOct 1
2012 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — a full 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 East Otto, 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 East Otto, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Little Valley, NY — 12 miles away, elevation 1,624 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 14729

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 14729 came on Apr 10 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 East Otto, NY.

Soil in East Otto, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14729 is Mardin — channery silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Mardin channery silt loam, 8 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 14729; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Otto, NY

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, February
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,999base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 14 °F 31°14° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 13 °F 33°13° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Little Valley, NY (12 mi away); precipitation: Cattaraugus, NY (9 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.

147665b
Otto, NY · 5 mi
141715b
West Valley, NY · 5 mi
147196a
Cattaraugus, NY · 8 mi
140356a
Collins Center, NY · 8 mi
141415b
Springville, NY · 8 mi
147315b
Ellicottville, NY · 8 mi
140346a
Collins, NY · 9 mi
140706a
Gowanda, NY · 9 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14729

What planting zone is ZIP code 14729?

ZIP code 14729 (East Otto, 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 East Otto, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14729 is May 17; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Little Valley station.

When is the first frost in East Otto, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14729 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14729?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 14729 get?

About 49 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cattaraugus station).

How hot do summers get in East Otto, NY?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14729 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mardin at the center of ZIP 14729: channery silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in East Otto, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14729 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Otto, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14729 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 14729 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 14729 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.