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

Planting zone for 14766 — Otto, NY

ZIP code 14766 (Otto, Cattaraugus County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 14766 is

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 17
First frostOct 1
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for 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 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 — 7 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 14766

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 14766 came on Apr 6 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 Otto, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14766 is Williamson — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Williamson silt loam, 3 to 8 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 14766; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in 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 (7 mi away); precipitation: Cattaraugus, NY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

5 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

147196a
Cattaraugus, NY · 4 mi
147296a
East Otto, NY · 5 mi
140706a
Gowanda, NY · 7 mi
147315b
Ellicottville, NY · 8 mi
147555b
Little Valley, NY · 9 mi
140416a
Dayton, NY · 9 mi
141715b
West Valley, NY · 9 mi
140356a
Collins Center, NY · 10 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14766

What planting zone is ZIP code 14766?

ZIP code 14766 (Otto, 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 Otto, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14766 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 Otto, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14766 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14766?

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 14766 get?

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

How hot do summers get in 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 14766 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Williamson at the center of ZIP 14766: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Otto, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14766 came on Apr 6 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Otto, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14766 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).