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

Planting zone for 14889 — Van Etten, NY

ZIP code 14889 (Van Etten, Chemung 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 14889 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 Van Etten, 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 Van Etten, 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 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season143 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Spencer 1 Ne, NY — 6 miles away, elevation 1,171 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 14889

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 14889 came on Apr 10 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 Van Etten, NY.

Soil in Van Etten, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 14889 is Arnot — channery silt loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Arnot channery silt loam, 2 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 14889; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Van Etten, NY

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,072base 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

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 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.41 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 MarApril: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Spencer 1 Ne, NY (6 mi away); precipitation: Chemung 5.7 N, NY (10 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.

148836a
Spencer, NY · 5 mi
148385b
Erin, NY · 5 mi
148246a
Cayuta, NY · 6 mi
148676a
Newfield, NY · 7 mi
148596a
Lockwood, NY · 8 mi
148165b
Breesport, NY · 8 mi
138645b
Willseyville, NY · 10 mi
149026a
Elmira, NY · 11 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 14889

What planting zone is ZIP code 14889?

ZIP code 14889 (Van Etten, 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 Van Etten, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 14889 is May 12; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spencer 1 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Van Etten, NY?

The median first fall frost near 14889 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 143 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 14889?

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 14889 get?

About 37.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chemung 5.7 N station).

How hot do summers get in Van Etten, NY?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 14889 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Arnot at the center of ZIP 14889: channery silt loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Van Etten, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 14889 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Van Etten, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 14889 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).