Find average frost dates for your last spring frost and first fall frost.
(If you're a farmer or gardener, get planting dates based on first frost dates.)
Dates given are normal averages for a light freeze or frost (32°F); local weather and topography may cause considerable variations. The possibility of frost occurring after the spring dates and before the fall dates is 50 percent. The classification of freezing temperatures is usually based on their effect on plants, with the following commonly accepted categories:
Light freeze:
29°F to 32°F—tender plants killed, with little destructive effect on other vegetation.
Moderate freeze:
25°F to 28°F—widely destructive effect on most vegetation, with heavy damage to fruit blossoms and tender and semi-hardy plants.
Severe freeze:
24°F and colder—damage to most plants.
Frost Dates
Below are U.S. cities. Or, see Canadian cities.
|
City |
State |
Growing
Season
(Days)
|
Last Spring
Frost Dates |
First Fall
Frost Dates |
|
Mobile |
AL |
273 |
Feb. 28 |
Nov. 29 |
|
Juneau |
AK |
148 |
May 8 |
Oct. 4 |
|
Flagstaff |
AZ |
106 |
June 9 |
Sept. 22 |
|
Phoenix |
AZ |
* |
* |
* |
|
Prescott |
AZ |
163 |
May 7 |
Oct. 18 |
|
Tucson |
AZ |
324 |
Jan. 19 |
Dec. 18 |
|
Pine Bluff |
AR |
240 |
Mar. 16 |
Nov. 12 |
|
Eureka |
CA |
323 |
Jan. 27 |
Dec. 16 |
|
Sacramento |
CA |
296 |
Feb. 10 |
Dec. 4 |
|
San Francisco |
CA |
* |
* |
* |
|
Denver |
CO |
157 |
Apr. 30 |
Oct. 4 |
|
Hartford |
CT |
166 |
Apr. 26 |
Oct. 9 |
|
Wilmington |
DE |
202 |
Apr. 10 |
Oct. 30 |
|
Miami |
FL |
* |
* |
* |
|
Tampa |
FL |
338 |
Jan. 28 |
Jan. 3 |
|
Athens |
GA |
227 |
Mar. 24 |
Nov. 7 |
|
Savannah |
GA |
268 |
Mar. 1 |
Nov. 25 |
|
Boise |
ID |
147 |
May 10 |
Oct. 6 |
|
Chicago |
IL |
187 |
Apr. 20 |
Oct. 24 |
|
Springfield |
IL |
182 |
Apr. 13 |
Oct. 13 |
|
Indianapolis |
IN |
181 |
Apr. 17 |
Oct. 16 |
|
South Bend |
IN |
175 |
Apr. 26 |
Oct. 19 |
|
Atlantic |
IA |
148 |
May 2 |
Sept. 28 |
|
Cedar Rapids |
IA |
163 |
Apr. 25 |
Oct. 6 |
|
Topeka |
KS |
174 |
Apr. 19 |
Oct. 11 |
|
Lexington |
KY |
192 |
Apr. 15 |
Oct. 25 |
|
Monroe |
LA |
256 |
Mar. 3 |
Nov. 15 |
|
New Orleans |
LA |
300 |
Feb. 12 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Portland |
ME |
156 |
May 2 |
Oct. 6 |
|
Baltimore |
MD |
200 |
Apr. 11 |
Oct. 29 |
|
Worcester |
MA |
170 |
Apr. 26 |
Oct. 14 |
|
Lansing |
MI |
145 |
May 10 |
Oct. 3 |
|
Marquette |
MI |
154 |
May 11 |
Oct. 13 |
|
Duluth |
MN |
124 |
May 21 |
Sept. 23 |
|
Willmar |
MN |
154 |
Apr. 30 |
Oct. 1 |
|
Columbus |
MS |
248 |
Mar. 13 |
Nov. 16 |
|
Vicksburg |
MS |
240 |
Mar. 20 |
Nov. 16 |
|
Jefferson City |
MO |
188 |
Apr. 13 |
Oct. 18 |
|
Fort Peck |
MT |
141 |
May 8 |
Sept. 26 |
|
Helena |
MT |
121 |
May 19 |
Sept. 18 |
|
Blair |
NE |
167 |
Apr. 25 |
Oct. 10 |
|
North Platte |
NE |
137 |
May 9 |
Sept. 24 |
|
Las Vegas |
NV |
283 |
Feb. 16 |
Nov. 27 |
|
Concord |
NH |
124 |
May 20 |
Sept. 21 |
|
Newark |
NJ |
217 |
Apr. 3 |
Nov. 7 |
|
Carlsbad |
NM |
215 |
Mar. 31 |
Nov. 2 |
|
Los Alamos |
NM |
149 |
May 11 |
Oct. 8 |
|
Albany |
NY |
153 |
May 2 |
Oct. 3 |
|
Syracuse |
NY |
168 |
Apr. 28 |
Oct. 13 |
|
Fayetteville |
NC |
222 |
Mar. 28 |
Nov. 5 |
|
Bismarck |
ND |
129 |
May 14 |
Sept. 21 |
|
Akron |
OH |
192 |
Apr. 18 |
Oct. 28 |
|
Cincinnati |
OH |
192 |
Apr. 13 |
Oct. 23 |
|
Lawton |
OK |
223 |
Mar. 29 |
Nov. 7 |
|
Tulsa |
OK |
225 |
Mar. 27 |
Nov. 7 |
|
Pendleton |
OR |
187 |
Apr. 13 |
Oct. 18 |
|
Portland |
OR |
236 |
Mar. 23 |
Nov. 15 |
|
Franklin |
PA |
164 |
May 6 |
Oct. 17 |
|
Williamsport |
PA |
168 |
Apr. 30 |
Oct. 15 |
|
Kingston |
RI |
147 |
May 8 |
Oct. 3 |
|
Charleston |
SC |
260 |
Mar. 9 |
Nov. 25 |
|
Columbia |
SC |
214 |
Apr. 1 |
Nov. 1 |
|
Rapid City |
SD |
140 |
May 9 |
Sept. 27 |
|
Memphis |
TN |
235 |
Mar. 22 |
Nov. 13 |
|
Nashville |
TN |
204 |
Apr. 6 |
Oct. 28 |
|
Amarillo |
TX |
185 |
Apr. 18 |
Oct. 20 |
|
Denton |
TX |
243 |
Mar. 18 |
Nov. 16 |
|
San Antonio |
TX |
270 |
Feb. 28 |
Nov. 25 |
|
Cedar City |
UT |
133 |
May 21 |
Oct. 1 |
|
Spanish Fork |
UT |
167 |
May 1 |
Oct. 16 |
|
Burlington |
VT |
147 |
May 8 |
Oct. 3 |
|
Norfolk |
VA |
247 |
Mar. 20 |
Nov. 23 |
|
Richmond |
VA |
206 |
Apr. 6 |
Oct. 30 |
|
Seattle |
WA |
251 |
Mar. 10 |
Nov. 17 |
|
Spokane |
WA |
153 |
May 2 |
Oct. 3 |
|
Parkersburg |
WV |
183 |
Apr. 21 |
Oct. 22 |
|
Green Bay |
WI |
150 |
May 6 |
Oct. 4 |
|
Janesville |
WI |
164 |
Apr. 28 |
Oct. 10 |
|
Casper |
WY |
120 |
May 22 |
Sept. 19 |
|
* Frosts do not occur every year.
|
For more locations click here.

Comments
Wow, the first frost has
Wow, the first frost has appeared early this year! Hebron, Maryland... October 19, 2009. I should have went with my gut instinct and moved my canister gardens and delicate plants into the garage! You can bet I did last night, the frost was even thicker this morning when I woke up. Let's see what tomorrow morning brings.
Kimberly, So glad you keep an
Kimberly, So glad you keep an eye on the frost. Our frost data is based on NOAA's historical averages and 50% probability so you still want to use your instincts, as you call 'em!
It's nice to know the staff
It's nice to know the staff at Old Farmers Almanac are honest. My grandfather used the Almanac for everything from planting to fishing. I can remember him saying, "we live good tomorrow by not forgetting yesterday.". He would hold up his Almanac up and tell all us kids that it was his memory book, but sometimes his memory was a bit faded. Thanks for being honest and making me think of my grandpa.
When planting tomatoe &
When planting tomatoe & pepper plants & to follow planting by the moon. Can I still go by the above ground bearing, moon waxing method still?
Hi, Stephen, facebook fan! Of
Hi, Stephen, facebook fan! Of course, we chatted on facebook but for everyone's benefit here, the answer is YES!
Sure you can if you live in
Sure you can if you live in zone 11. even if grown in green house, go with your plan.
Still too cold to plant
Still too cold to plant tomatoes ?? The man at the nursery said it was ok, but I don't want to take a chance.
Hi Shirley, tomato planting
Hi Shirley, tomato planting time depends on your hardiness zone, you need to be sure all danger of frost has passed before setting out tomato plants. You can see a list of frost dates here: http://www.almanac.com/content/frost-chart-united-states and advice for planting and harvesting tomatoes here: http://www.almanac.com/plant/tomatoes Good luck!
I'd like to know when the
I'd like to know when the first frost is in Glen Burnie, Md cause we still have stink bugs around. When will it come so the frost will kill them outside? Hate those Stink Bugs.
Not sure about stinkbugs, but
Not sure about stinkbugs, but if you're looking for more frost dates, just click on the link below the chart, then find your state, then find your nearest weather station. For example, if you live near Beltsville, MD, then it says that your area hits 32 degrees (frost) in the fall around Oct 22 (50% probability). Of course, that's based on a 30-year historical average. Every year is different!
Sorry to tell you, but the
Sorry to tell you, but the stinkbugs can survive freezing, snow and ice. We have the nasty things in Virginia and have been fighting them all winter - IN the house. Finally figured out that they must be over wintering in our wood pile because every time DH brings in a load of firewood, there are more bugs in the house. Do a Google search on them. You will find photos of the bugs and their eggs. We saw eggs in the garden last year but didn't know what they were. Now we do and will be carefully inspecting leaves for signs and destroying them when found.
Sorry I couldn't bring you better news...
Hi Spinner, You can kill
Hi Spinner,
You can kill most bugs with boric acid powder. It won't hurt pets and it dissicates the bugs. You can buy it at most drug stores.
Spread it at the place where you usually see the bugs and they will die. When other bugs eat the carcass, they will die too.
If the powder does not get wet, it will last up to a year. Boric Acid is in a lot of bug powders sold commercially. You can find those very cheap at any Dollar Store. God Bless, Dee
Just a helpful hint about
Just a helpful hint about using wood for heat. Don't know if you are burning it in the fireplace or woodstove, but after heating with wood for over 40 years, I've learned (the hard way) that all sorts of nasty "creepy-crawlies" can hitch a ride under the bark (and inside the wood itself) and then infest your house. So, we keep our wood outside on a steel wood rack, right outside the door to the Family Room, and when it's time to load the stove, we open the door to the stove, and take the wood one (or two, if small) at a time and put them directly into the fire, don't set them down on the hearth or the floor, even for just a few minutes, because those critters can really scoot out and get into the tiniest of cracks and crevices (or carpet). It doesn't matter how cold it is outside, they seem to over-winter through it all.
When is the last frost date
When is the last frost date for Spring 2011 in Zachary Louisiana 70791
Hi--if you see the link at
Hi--if you see the link at the bottom, you can find your frost date by state. Then pick closest weather station. If you live near Baton Rouge, you can see that that the 50% probability of frost date (32 degrees) is February 26. Of course, this is based on 30 years of history--every year is different!
Thanks. Now I known around
Thanks. Now I known around when I should start my vegetable garden. P.S. Does anybody know how to keep birds from eating the corn in your garden?
This answer depends on the
This answer depends on the size of your garden. In my garden, I tie 8 inch strips of thick tinfoil to poles and distribute them through out my garden. The wind causes a slight sound and the sun glinting off the tinfoil simulates movement, and this seems to keep the birds away from my plants. This would not be practical for large gardens.
Thank you for the
Thank you for the information. Now, we can grow our vegetables according to the table given above. I didn't know about much things. I am happy that this blog is providing many informative knowledge. Hope in the coming days also you will provide this kinds of knowledge. :D
so it frosts last nite, temp
so it frosts last nite, temp was 32 when I got up.... my tomatoes look very sad. what are the odds of them surviving this frost? It is supposed to get cold again tonite and I plan on covering them. Do you think they may survive??? It should not frost this late where I live, rural area south of KCMO. Tks Kat
Tomatoes are very sensitive
Tomatoes are very sensitive to frost; it will kill them. Even cold weather is harmful to their health, although it is not as deadly as frost. When you say that your plants "look sad" do you mean that they are limp and floppy or do sections of the leaves look very dark green and mushy like lettuce that's been in the fridge for too long? if that's the case... severe damage has occurred. It's a good idea to cover them with plastic sheeting or individually with inverted clear plastic jugs at night and uncover them during the day until all threat of frost has passed. As for survival...you will know for sure within the next week or two. Also, keep the plants and soil wet as the moisture raises the temp needed for frost to form.
Thank you for this
Thank you for this information I am a gardener and this information will really help me to start my vegetation period as you know "Little things make a big difference - some you can change your landscaping". After knowing this data I can now start my work in a appropriate time from my grains. I recently came to know about wholesale flower pots where we can plant flowers and even some light vegetables. I have no experience using this before have anyone of you used this before?
We are in a "90" year droute
We are in a "90" year droute down hear in TX. Didn't do one this year wish I was able but not allowed to us h2o out side.
I just won't to know when God
I just won't to know when God is going to tern on the AC. And get rid of thes 100+ days. It's hot in TX and my Hubby is a roofer so it wold be nice just being in the 90's.
my question is for starting a
my question is for starting a vegtable garden in ossipee nh..do i need to wait for end of may to actually put my seeds or plants in ground??
Marie, This data is based on
Marie, This data is based on 30-year historical averages and a 50% probability. Many people in NH wait until Memorial Day to be safe from frosts. But every year is different and keep in mind your microclimate. You can click on the link below the chart to see other weather stations for your state and other probabilities.
I would like to know what I
I would like to know what I have to do to the ground to start an asparagus patch?
Hi, Margaret, Eliminate all
Hi, Margaret, Eliminate all weeds from the bed, digging it over and working in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost, manure or soil mix. Then, dig trenches of about 6 inches wide and 6 to 12 inches deep. Some experts believe shallow trenches of 6 inches are best. See our Asparagus Page for this information and more: http://www.almanac.com/plant/asparagus
Man I love being in the bay
Man I love being in the bay area. even a light frost is actually very uncommon. It's growing season all year long here :D
Here in Chicago, I just
Here in Chicago, I just finish weeding my container garden. In between two containers I have a english pea plant growing. The plant already have a few baby pods. If I can uproot the plant without destroying the root, can I transplant? What if I can't dig up all the roots?
Leave the pea plant in the
Leave the pea plant in the ground. They don't like to be transplanted. You may be able to harvest a few pods before the plant dies. Peas are cold hardy. Cover the plant with a towel or sheet if you have a hard frost.
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