Your last spring frost, first fall frost and growing season, with the odds for each date — and a list of what to sow, start indoors or plant out this week.
What these dates mean
Your last spring frost date is the date after which a frost is unlikely; your first fall frost date is when the first one usually arrives. Neither is a single fixed day. NOAA’s climate normals give each as a set of probabilities, worked out from 30 years of daily low temperatures (1991–2020) at a nearby weather station.
The median (50%) date is what most charts call the “average” frost date, so it gets a frost after it in roughly half of all years. For tomatoes, peppers, basil and other tender plants, many gardeners use the 10% or 30% date instead, or simply watch the 10-day forecast.
Why we show nearby stations
Frost is very local. Cold air drains into valleys, cities stay warmer than the countryside, and every 1,000 ft of elevation can push the last frost back by about a week or more. We match your ZIP to the three closest NOAA stations that have frost statistics and show their distance and elevation, so you can pick the one most like your garden.
Using “sow this week”
The list combines your frost dates with timing rules for 43 common crops (see the crop timing guide). Seed packets and local conditions win: if your soil is still cold and wet, wait; if a warm spell is forecast, you can start a little early under cover.
Questions gardeners ask
How accurate are frost dates by ZIP code?
They are long-term probabilities for the nearest NOAA climate station, not a forecast for this year. Your garden can be several degrees warmer or colder than the station, especially if elevation or terrain differ.
What is the difference between frost and freeze?
Plants can be damaged by frost when the air at ground level drops to about 32°F; on clear, calm nights frost can form even when the official temperature is 34–36°F. A hard freeze (28°F or below) kills most tender and many half-hardy plants.
My ZIP says "rarely freezes". What should I plant when?
In frost-free and nearly frost-free areas, heat is the limit: plant cool-season crops from fall to early spring and heat-loving crops in spring and summer. Frost-based calendars do not apply well.
Is this the same as my hardiness zone?
No. Hardiness zones describe the coldest winter night and help choose perennials. Frost dates tell you when to plant annual crops. Two places in the same zone can have very different frost dates.