When is the last frost in Reno, NV?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Reno is April 20, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until May 5.

When is the first frost in Reno?

The average first fall frost in Reno is October 23, with a growing season of about 184 days.

Home › States › Reno

Reno, Nevada frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 20. Average first fall frost: October 23. That gives a growing season of about 184 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 5, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Apr 20

1-in-10 risk after May 5

First frost (50%)

Oct 23

1-in-10 risk before Oct 11

Growing season

184 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 3

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	April 6	November 3
70%	April 14	October 29
50%	April 20	October 23
30%	April 26	October 18
10%	May 5	October 11

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 5. These are NOAA probabilities for the Reno Tahoe International Airport weather station (USW00023185, elevation 1344 m), 1991–2020.

Reno vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 20). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 5) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Mar 30	Apr 27 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 9	Mar 23
Brussels sprouts	Feb 9	Mar 23
Cabbage	Feb 2	Mar 16
Cauliflower	Feb 23	Apr 6
Sweet corn	Mar 23	Apr 20 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Apr 6	Apr 27
Kale	Feb 2	Mar 16
Leeks	Jan 5	Mar 16
Lettuce	Mar 2	Apr 6
Melons	Apr 13	May 4
Onions	Dec 29	Mar 9 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Feb 23	Mar 23 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 9	May 4
Squash	Apr 13	May 4
Tomatoes	Feb 23	Apr 20

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 23. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 11. 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 2.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Sacramento, CA	Feb 22	Nov 24	~179 km
San Jose, CA	Jan 12	Dec 22	~299 km
Fresno, CA	Jan 14	Dec 14	~300 km
San Francisco, CA	Dec 29	Dec 26	~304 km
Medford, OR	Apr 8	Oct 29	~417 km
Bakersfield, CA	Jan 17	Dec 15	~454 km

More: all Nevada frost dates