When is the last frost in Burlington, VT?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Burlington is April 29, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until May 11.

When is the first frost in Burlington?

The average first fall frost in Burlington is October 15, with a growing season of about 169 days.

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Burlington, Vermont frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 29. Average first fall frost: October 15. That gives a growing season of about 169 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 11, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Apr 29

1-in-10 risk after May 11

First frost (50%)

Oct 15

1-in-10 risk before Oct 2

Growing season

169 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 18

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	April 17	November 1
70%	April 24	October 22
50%	April 29	October 15
30%	May 3	October 9
10%	May 11	October 2

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 11. These are NOAA probabilities for the Burlington International Airport weather station (USW00014742, elevation 101 m), 1991–2020.

Burlington vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 29). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 11) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Apr 8	May 6 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 18	Apr 1
Brussels sprouts	Feb 18	Apr 1
Cabbage	Feb 11	Mar 25
Cauliflower	Mar 4	Apr 15
Sweet corn	Apr 1	Apr 29 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Apr 15	May 6
Kale	Feb 11	Mar 25
Leeks	Jan 14	Mar 25
Lettuce	Mar 11	Apr 15
Melons	Apr 22	May 13
Onions	Jan 7	Mar 18 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Mar 4	Apr 1 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 18	May 13
Squash	Apr 22	May 13
Tomatoes	Mar 4	Apr 29

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 15. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 2. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around October 28.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Albany, NY	Apr 27	Oct 15	~198 km
Manchester, NH	Apr 21	Oct 19	~218 km
Portland, ME	Apr 26	Oct 15	~243 km
Worcester, MA	Apr 23	Oct 21	~264 km
Syracuse, NY	Apr 29	Oct 19	~278 km
Hartford, CT	Apr 21	Oct 16	~283 km

More: all Vermont frost dates