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

Planting zone for 14809 — Avoca, NY

ZIP code 14809 (Avoca, Steuben County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 14809 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 12
First frostOct 3
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 Avoca, 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 Avoca, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Bath, NY — 7 miles away, elevation 1,119 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 14809

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 14809 came on Apr 8 — 7 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 5b in New York

609 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

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 120

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 208

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 185

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 7

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Avoca, NY.

Soil in Avoca, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14809 is Bath — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter10%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bath soils, steep.

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 14809; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Avoca, NY

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,363base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 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)
Precipitation38.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall62 inper year; 87 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 34 °F, low 13 °F 34°13° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 13 °F 36°13° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 20 °F 45°20° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 31 °F 58°31° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 42 °F 71°42° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 51 °F 79°51° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 56 °F 83°56° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 47 °F 75°47° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.38 in precipitation, 16.4 in snowfall 2.4❄16 JanFebruary: 1.89 in precipitation, 13.9 in snowfall 1.9❄14 FebMarch: 2.62 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 2.6❄12 MarApril: 3.28 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.3❄2 AprMay: 3.37 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.61 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 2.74 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 2.7❄4 NovDecember: 2.71 in precipitation, 14 in snowfall 2.7❄14 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bath, NY (7 mi away); precipitation: Hornell Almond Dam, NY (14 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.

148565b
Kanona, NY · 5 mi
148265b
Cohocton, NY · 5 mi
148105b
Bath, NY · 7 mi
148086a
Atlanta, NY · 9 mi
148736a
Prattsburgh, NY · 10 mi
145726a
Wayland, NY · 11 mi
148435b
Hornell, NY · 11 mi
145296a
Perkinsville, NY · 13 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14809

What planting zone is ZIP code 14809?

ZIP code 14809 (Avoca, 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 Avoca, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14809 is May 12; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bath station.

When is the first frost in Avoca, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14809 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14809?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 14809 get?

About 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 62 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hornell Almond Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Avoca, NY?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14809 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bath at the center of ZIP 14809: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Avoca, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14809 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Avoca, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14809 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).