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

Planting zone for 14840 — Hammondsport, NY

ZIP code 14840 (Hammondsport, Steuben County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 14840 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 12
First frostOct 3
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hammondsport, 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 Hammondsport, 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 — 10 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 14840

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 14840 came on Apr 5 — 10 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 Hammondsport, NY.

Soil in Hammondsport, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14840 is Volusia — channery silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Volusia 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 14840; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hammondsport, 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)
Precipitation30.2 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 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

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 JanFebruary: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 2.06 in precipitation 2.1 MarApril: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 MayJune: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 JunJuly: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.14 in precipitation 2.1 NovDecember: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bath, NY (10 mi away); precipitation: Penn Yan Airport, NY (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

148936a
Wayne, NY · 5 mi
148746a
Pulteney, NY · 6 mi
148156a
Bradford, NY · 7 mi
148736a
Prattsburgh, NY · 8 mi
148876a
Tyrone, NY · 9 mi
148795b
Savona, NY · 9 mi
148376a
Dundee, NY · 10 mi
148565b
Kanona, NY · 10 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14840

What planting zone is ZIP code 14840?

ZIP code 14840 (Hammondsport, 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 Hammondsport, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14840 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 Hammondsport, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14840 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14840?

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 14840 get?

About 30.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Penn Yan Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Hammondsport, 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 14840 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Volusia at the center of ZIP 14840: channery silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Hammondsport, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14840 came on Apr 5 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hammondsport, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14840 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).