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New York, New York frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 2. Average first fall frost: November 14. That gives a growing season of about 226 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is April 13, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.
Last frost (50%)
Apr 2
1-in-10 risk after Apr 13
First frost (50%)
Nov 14
1-in-10 risk before Nov 2
Growing season
226 days
median frost-free days
Hard freeze (28°F)
Mar 23
median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frostSpring: frost afterFall: frost before
90%March 20December 1
70%March 29November 21
50%April 2November 14
30%April 5November 9
10%April 13November 2

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after April 13. These are NOAA probabilities for the New York Jfk International Airport weather station (USW00094789, elevation 3 m), 1991–2020.

New York vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 2). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Apr 13) is the cautious choice.

CropStart seeds indoorsPlant out
BeansMar 12Apr 9 (usually sown directly in the garden)
BroccoliJan 22Mar 5
Brussels sproutsJan 22Mar 5
CabbageJan 15Feb 26
CauliflowerFeb 5Mar 19
Sweet cornMar 5Apr 2 (usually sown directly in the garden)
CucumbersMar 19Apr 9
KaleJan 15Feb 26
LeeksDec 18Feb 26
LettuceFeb 12Mar 19
MelonsMar 26Apr 16
OnionsDec 11Feb 19 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
PeasFeb 5Mar 5 (usually sown directly in the garden)
PeppersFeb 19Apr 16
SquashMar 26Apr 16
TomatoesFeb 5Apr 2

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 November 14. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before November 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 November 26.

Nearby cities

CityLast frost (50%)First frost (50%)Distance
Newark, NJApr 2Nov 10~35 km
Allentown, PAApr 20Oct 24~142 km
Philadelphia, PAApr 2Nov 10~150 km
Hartford, CTApr 21Oct 16~171 km
Providence, RIApr 11Oct 30~230 km
Albany, NYApr 27Oct 15~234 km

More: all New York frost dates