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

Planting zone for 14803 — Alfred Station, NY

ZIP code 14803 (Alfred Station, Allegany County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 14803 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 18
First frostOct 1
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alfred Station, 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 Alfred Station, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Alfred, NY — 4 miles away, elevation 1,923 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 14803

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
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 18) 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 14803 came on Apr 8 — 6 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).

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 Alfred Station, NY.

Soil in Alfred Station, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14803 is Almond — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Almond 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 14803; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alfred Station, NY

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,033base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall82 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 20 °F 43°20° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 30 °F 56°30° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 41 °F 69°41° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 54 °F 81°54° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 52 °F 79°52° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.37 in precipitation, 18.6 in snowfall 2.4❄19 JanFebruary: 1.73 in precipitation, 18.1 in snowfall 1.7❄18 FebMarch: 2.49 in precipitation, 16.9 in snowfall 2.5❄17 MarApril: 3.16 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 3.2❄4 AprMay: 3.35 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 MayJune: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.68 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.7 OctNovember: 2.82 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 2.8❄7 NovDecember: 2.89 in precipitation, 18 in snowfall 2.9❄18 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Alfred, NY (4 mi away); precipitation: Alfred, NY (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

148025b
Alfred, NY · 1 mi
148066a
Andover, NY · 5 mi
148045b
Almond, NY · 6 mi
148805b
Scio, NY · 10 mi
148135b
Belmont, NY · 10 mi
148396a
Greenwood, NY · 10 mi
148435b
Hornell, NY · 11 mi
147095b
Angelica, NY · 13 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14803

What planting zone is ZIP code 14803?

ZIP code 14803 (Alfred Station, 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 Alfred Station, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14803 is May 18; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alfred station.

When is the first frost in Alfred Station, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14803 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14803?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 14803 get?

About 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 82 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alfred station).

How hot do summers get in Alfred Station, NY?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14803 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Almond at the center of ZIP 14803: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Alfred Station, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14803 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alfred Station, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14803 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 14803 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 14803 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.