Type your city or state to find your average last spring frost date, first fall frost date, growing season length, and USDA hardiness zone.
Showing average dates based on 30-year NOAA climate normals.
Start typing to find frost dates for your city.
If your city isn't listed above, use your USDA zone as a guide. Find your zone at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
| Zone | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Growing Season | Example Regions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Jun 1 | Sep 1 | ~90 days | Northern MN, Interior AK, Prairie Canada |
| Zone 4 | May 15 | Sep 15 | ~120 days | Minneapolis MN, Bismarck ND, Calgary AB |
| Zone 5 | May 1 | Oct 1 | ~150 days | Chicago IL, Denver CO, Burlington VT |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | ~180 days | Washington DC, Kansas City MO, Louisville KY |
| Zone 7 | Apr 1 | Nov 1 | ~210 days | Atlanta GA, Nashville TN, Dallas TX |
| Zone 8 | Mar 1 | Nov 20 | ~265 days | Seattle WA, Houston TX, Charlotte NC |
| Zone 9 | Feb 1 | Dec 5 | ~300 days | Phoenix AZ, Sacramento CA, New Orleans LA |
| Zone 10 | Frost rare | Frost rare | ~365 days | Miami FL, San Diego CA |
| Zone 11 | No frost | No frost | Year-round | Hawaii |
Count back from your last spring frost date to find when to start seeds indoors. Tomatoes need 6–8 weeks, peppers 10–12 weeks, and cucumbers just 3–4 weeks before transplanting.
Move tender transplants outside after your last frost date. Harden off seedlings for 7–10 days first by placing them outside for a few hours per day, increasing exposure gradually.
Add each crop's days-to-maturity to its transplant or direct-sow date. Aim to harvest at least 4 weeks before your first fall frost for long-season crops like squash and sweet potato.
Use your first fall frost date to plan a second season. Cold-tolerant crops like kale, spinach, and carrots can be sown 8–10 weeks before first frost for a fall harvest.
Your last frost date is the average calendar date after which ground-level temperatures are unlikely to drop below 32°F (0°C) in spring. It's a statistical average based on historical weather data — not a guarantee. There's still a 10–30% chance of frost after this date, which is why hardening off your plants matters.
Your first fall frost date is the average date when temperatures first drop to 32°F (0°C) or below in autumn. Use it to plan your end-of-season: bring in tender plants, start fall crops, and begin storing root vegetables before the ground freezes.
The dates are based on 30-year NOAA climate normals (1991–2020) and represent the 50% probability date — meaning there's an equal chance frost will occur before or after this date. For more certainty, use the 10% probability date (about 2–3 weeks later in spring) for cold-sensitive crops like basil and tomatoes.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are based on the average minimum winter temperature in a given area. They are divided into 13 zones (1–13), each split into "a" (colder) and "b" (warmer) halves. Zone 5b means average minimum winter lows of −15°F to −10°F (−26°C to −23°C). Zones help you choose perennials, trees and shrubs that will survive your winters — but for annual vegetable planning, frost dates are more directly useful.
You can effectively shift your frost dates 4–6 weeks earlier in spring and later in fall using season extension tools: row covers and frost blankets protect plants down to 28°F; cold frames add 4–6 weeks; low tunnels with heavy fabric can add 6–8 weeks; and a heated greenhouse removes frost risk entirely. In Zone 5 with cold frames, you can realistically grow as if you were in Zone 6.
Find the nearest large city in the same region, or use the USDA Zone map (planthardiness.ars.usda.gov) to identify your zone and then use the zone reference table above. Local cooperative extension offices also publish frost date data specific to your county — search "[your county] frost dates extension" for highly local data.
Plug your frost dates straight into these free tools.
Save your location once and EdenVatika auto-generates a planting calendar for every crop in your garden — sow dates, transplant reminders, and harvest windows all calculated from your actual frost dates.
Auto planting calendar
Zone-aware schedule for every crop in your garden
Frost warning alerts
Get notified when a late frost is forecast (Pro)
Location-based planning
Set your location once — all dates update automatically
Season extension tracking
Log your cold frames and tunnel dates to extend your season (Pro)
AI garden planner
Get a full personalised plan based on your location and beds (Pro)
Free to start
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