Your last spring frost marks the start of the main planting season. Hardy crops such as peas, spinach and onions can go in several weeks before it. Tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash and basil go in after it, once nights stay above 50°F.
Your first fall frost marks the end of the season for tender crops. Count back from it to find the last date to plant a crop: a bean variety that needs 55 days to harvest has to be in the ground about 8 weeks before your first frost.
Frost dates by state
To compare towns across your state, see the frost dates by state tables, which list every NOAA weather station with its average last and first frost.
How these dates are calculated
NOAA analyzed daily low temperatures from 1991 to 2020 at each weather station. The average frost date is the day with a 50% chance of frost on a later day in spring, or an earlier day in fall, at 32°F. The safer planting date uses a 10% chance instead. Because a frost date is a probability, treat it as a guide and check the 10-day forecast before planting tender crops.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. ZIP code locations: U.S. Census Bureau, 2026 ZCTA Gazetteer.
Frequently asked questions
What does the average last frost date mean?
It is the date after which there is a 50% chance of another frost (32°F or colder) in spring, based on 30 years of records. In about half of all years the last frost comes later, which is why many gardeners wait until the safer date before planting tomatoes and peppers.
What is the safer planting date?
It is the date with only a 10% chance of a later spring frost, so in 9 years out of 10 the last frost has already happened. It is a good target for frost-tender crops if you don’t want to cover plants on cold nights.
Why might my garden get frost on different dates?
Frost dates come from the nearest NOAA weather station. Gardens at a higher elevation, in valleys and low spots where cold air settles, or in open rural areas often frost later in spring and earlier in fall. Gardens in cities or near large lakes and the ocean often frost less.
Is a frost date the same as my hardiness zone?
No. Your USDA hardiness zone is based on the coldest winter temperature and tells you which perennials survive winter. Frost dates tell you when your growing season starts and ends, which is what you need for planting vegetables.
Where does this data come from?
Frost dates come from the NOAA U.S. Climate Normals for 1991–2020, using a 32°F threshold. ZIP code locations come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Each ZIP code uses the nearest station with frost records, within 60 miles.
A day-by-day schedule for moving indoor seedlings outside without sunscald, wind damage or transplant shock, plus signs your plants are ready to plant.
How to work out the last planting date for fall vegetables by counting back from your first fall frost, with a worked example and the best crops for fall.
How to tell when frost is coming and how to protect tender plants with covers, water and cloches, plus which vegetables need protection and which don’t.
Plant tomatoes outside 1 to 2 weeks after your last frost, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil has warmed to 60°F. Here is how to time it for your area.