Frost-free season: – · threshold: frost (32°F)
For tomatoes, peppers and other tender plants, a safer plant-out date is after (32°F, 1 year in 10).
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Historical averages, not a forecast. Frost can occur after this date. Check your local forecast before planting.
Coming up in your garden
- Enter a ZIP to see what to plant next.
All frost dates for this station
Dates by temperature and risk. The highlighted cell is your current choice.
| Event | 10% | 30% | 50% | 90% |
|---|
Getting ready for frost and spring
- Frost cloth and plant covers to protect beds on a cold night.
- A soil thermometer tells you when the ground is warm enough to sow.
- Seedling heat mats and grow lights for starting seeds indoors.
- Vegetable seeds from True Leaf Market or Park Seed.
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How these frost dates work
We match your ZIP code to the nearest NOAA weather station with frost records, allowing for elevation. Each station has 1991–2020 records of the last spring night and first fall night at or below 36°F, 32°F and 28°F. NOAA turns those 30 years into probabilities, and we show the date for the risk you pick.
The station's name, distance and elevation are shown under the result. If it's more than 25 miles away or 500 feet higher or lower than your ZIP, we say so, because frost dates can shift a week or more over short distances in hills and valleys. Cold air sinks, so low spots get frost later in spring than nearby slopes.
The frost-free season is the number of days between the two dates at your chosen risk. Use it to check whether long-season crops like melons, peppers and winter squash have time to ripen.
Questions
When is the last frost date for my ZIP code?
Type your ZIP above. At the default 30% risk, the date shown is the one after which frost comes in only about 3 springs out of 10, based on 1991–2020 records from the nearest weather station. Most published frost tables use this same 30% date.
What does the risk level mean?
Frost dates move from year to year. The 10% date is the cautious one: only 1 spring in 10 has frost after it. The 50% date is the middle of the range, so half of springs still get a frost after it. Pick 10% for tender transplants like tomatoes and peppers, and 30–50% for hardy crops.
Can it still frost after the last frost date?
Yes. These are averages from past years, not a forecast. Even at the 10% risk level, about 1 spring in 10 has a later frost. Watch the forecast in the week before you plant out, and keep a frost cloth handy.
What's the difference between 36°F, 32°F and 28°F?
Air temperature is measured about 5 feet up, and plants near the ground can be colder. A 36°F night can still bring light frost on tender leaves; 32°F is a frost; 28°F is a hard freeze that damages most plants, even many hardy ones. Use 36°F if you garden in a low, frosty spot.
Plan your planting
Every crop guide uses your frost dates to give you seed-starting and planting dates.
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Garlic
- Pumpkins
- Strawberries
- Carrots
- Onions
- Sunflowers
- Cucumbers
- Asparagus
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potatoes
- Watermelon
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Green Beans
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Radishes
- Zucchini
- Peppers
- Spinach
- Kale
- Winter Squash
- Cauliflower
- Tulips
- Wildflower Seeds
- Basil
Data source
Palecki, M., et al. (2021). U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Annual/Seasonal Climate Normals (1991–2020), version 1.0.1. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11. ZIP locations: U.S. Census Bureau 2025 Gazetteer (ZCTA). ZIP elevations are estimated from the nearest NOAA GHCN-Daily station. NOAA's next set of normals is due around 2031.