Reference table

Frost Dates by City

Look up average last spring frost, first fall frost, and frost-free season length by city. These dates help you estimate when tender crops can usually go outside in spring and how much outdoor growing time remains before fall frost.

Cities listed 428 Cities with average frost-date values.
Median frost-free season 151 days Median across the current city list.
Use this for Planting windows Seed starting, transplant timing, and fall harvest planning.

Search frost dates by city

Search by city, province/state, or country. City names link to local planting-date pages with crop-specific timing. If you do not see your city listed here, use the Frost Date Finder to search by ZIP or postal code.

Showing 428 cities.

City Region Country Last spring frost First fall frost Frost-free days
Airdrie Alberta Canada May 21 September 18 120
Banff Alberta Canada June 19 August 23 65
Brooks Alberta Canada May 22 September 21 122
Calgary Alberta Canada May 21 September 18 120
Camrose Alberta Canada May 20 September 14 117
Canmore Alberta Canada June 19 August 23 65
Cochrane Alberta Canada May 21 September 18 120
Cold Lake Alberta Canada May 19 September 16 120
Edmonton Alberta Canada May 27 September 10 106
Edson Alberta Canada June 4 September 4 92
Fort McMurray Alberta Canada May 29 September 7 101
Fort Vermilion Alberta Canada May 30 September 6 99
Grande Prairie Alberta Canada May 21 September 10 112
High Level Alberta Canada May 30 September 6 99
Hinton Alberta Canada June 4 September 4 92
Lacombe Alberta Canada May 22 September 12 113
Leduc Alberta Canada May 27 September 10 106
Lethbridge Alberta Canada May 21 September 17 119
Lloydminster Alberta Canada May 18 September 17 122
Medicine Hat Alberta Canada May 12 September 25 136
Okotoks Alberta Canada May 21 September 18 120
Peace River Alberta Canada May 21 September 13 115
Red Deer Alberta Canada May 22 September 12 113
Rocky Mountain House Alberta Canada June 13 August 25 73
Slave Lake Alberta Canada May 26 September 16 113
Spruce Grove Alberta Canada May 7 September 25 141
St. Albert Alberta Canada May 7 September 25 141
Wetaskiwin Alberta Canada May 20 September 14 117
Whitecourt Alberta Canada May 20 September 15 118
100 Mile House British Columbia Canada April 25 October 12 170
Abbotsford British Columbia Canada April 3 November 7 218
Burnaby British Columbia Canada March 19 November 10 236
Campbell River British Columbia Canada April 27 October 13 169
Chilliwack British Columbia Canada April 3 November 7 218
Courtenay British Columbia Canada April 1 November 6 219
Cranbrook British Columbia Canada May 18 September 23 128
Fort Nelson British Columbia Canada May 15 September 14 122
Fort St. John British Columbia Canada May 12 September 16 127
Kamloops British Columbia Canada April 25 October 12 170
Kelowna British Columbia Canada April 30 October 8 161
Mackenzie British Columbia Canada May 26 September 17 114
Nanaimo British Columbia Canada March 19 November 10 236
Nelson British Columbia Canada April 28 October 13 168
Penticton British Columbia Canada April 30 October 8 161
Port Alberni British Columbia Canada April 1 November 6 219
Powell River British Columbia Canada April 1 November 6 219
Prince George British Columbia Canada May 22 September 7 108
Quesnel British Columbia Canada May 22 September 19 120
Revelstoke British Columbia Canada May 31 September 11 103
Salmon Arm British Columbia Canada April 28 October 6 161
Smithers British Columbia Canada May 26 September 17 114
Surrey British Columbia Canada April 11 October 30 202
Terrace British Columbia Canada April 25 October 17 175
Vancouver British Columbia Canada March 19 November 10 236
Vernon British Columbia Canada April 28 October 6 161
Victoria British Columbia Canada April 4 November 4 214
Whistler British Columbia Canada April 19 October 28 192
Williams Lake British Columbia Canada May 21 September 14 116
Brandon Manitoba Canada May 18 September 18 123
Dauphin Manitoba Canada May 21 September 20 122
Flin Flon Manitoba Canada May 21 September 24 126
Morden Manitoba Canada May 15 September 28 136
Portage la Prairie Manitoba Canada May 19 September 28 132
Selkirk Manitoba Canada May 23 September 22 122
Steinbach Manitoba Canada May 23 September 22 122
Swan River Manitoba Canada June 3 September 13 102
The Pas Manitoba Canada May 24 September 22 121
Thompson Manitoba Canada June 14 August 28 75
Winkler Manitoba Canada May 15 September 28 136
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada May 23 September 22 122
Bathurst New Brunswick Canada May 20 September 26 129
Edmundston New Brunswick Canada May 21 September 15 117
Fredericton New Brunswick Canada May 14 September 27 136
Miramichi New Brunswick Canada May 23 October 5 135
Moncton New Brunswick Canada May 19 October 2 136
Saint John New Brunswick Canada May 21 September 27 129
Corner Brook Newfoundland and Labrador Canada June 10 September 20 102
Gander Newfoundland and Labrador Canada May 31 October 20 142
St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador Canada May 28 October 18 143
Hay River Northwest Territories Canada June 20 August 24 65
Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada May 24 September 21 120
Amherst Nova Scotia Canada May 27 October 3 129
Bridgewater Nova Scotia Canada May 26 September 28 125
Halifax Nova Scotia Canada April 30 October 29 182
Kentville Nova Scotia Canada May 19 October 1 135
New Glasgow Nova Scotia Canada June 10 September 22 104
Sydney Nova Scotia Canada May 22 October 20 151
Truro Nova Scotia Canada June 1 September 25 116
Yarmouth Nova Scotia Canada April 28 October 24 179
Aurora Ontario Canada May 3 October 13 163
Barrie Ontario Canada May 16 October 5 142
Belleville Ontario Canada May 1 October 10 162
Brantford Ontario Canada May 1 October 12 164
Burlington Ontario Canada May 1 October 12 164
Cambridge Ontario Canada May 8 October 5 150
Chapleau Ontario Canada May 29 September 18 112
Chatham-Kent Ontario Canada May 10 October 6 149
Cochrane Ontario Canada June 4 September 17 105
Cornwall Ontario Canada April 28 October 7 162
Dryden Ontario Canada May 17 September 28 134
Elliot Lake Ontario Canada May 18 October 1 136
Guelph Ontario Canada May 8 October 5 150
Hamilton Ontario Canada May 1 October 12 164
Kapuskasing Ontario Canada June 4 September 17 105
Kenora Ontario Canada May 10 October 2 145
Kingston Ontario Canada April 27 October 14 170
Kitchener Ontario Canada May 8 October 5 150
Leamington Ontario Canada April 25 October 23 181
London Ontario Canada May 3 October 16 166
Markham Ontario Canada May 3 October 13 163
Milton Ontario Canada May 1 October 12 164
Mississauga Ontario Canada April 27 October 20 176
Moosonee Ontario Canada June 4 September 17 105
Newmarket Ontario Canada May 3 October 13 163
Niagara Falls Ontario Canada May 6 October 14 161
North Bay Ontario Canada May 15 September 29 137
Oakville Ontario Canada May 1 October 12 164
Orillia Ontario Canada May 16 October 5 142
Oshawa Ontario Canada April 30 October 15 168
Ottawa Ontario Canada April 30 October 6 159
Owen Sound Ontario Canada May 12 October 10 151
Peterborough Ontario Canada May 16 September 24 131
Pickering Ontario Canada May 3 October 13 163
Red Lake Ontario Canada May 25 September 27 125
Richmond Hill Ontario Canada May 3 October 13 163
Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada May 28 September 29 124
Sioux Lookout Ontario Canada May 17 September 28 134
St. Catharines Ontario Canada May 6 October 14 161
Stratford Ontario Canada May 8 October 5 150
Sudbury Ontario Canada May 18 October 1 136
Thunder Bay Ontario Canada May 31 September 16 108
Timmins Ontario Canada June 7 September 7 92
Toronto Ontario Canada April 27 October 20 176
Vaughan Ontario Canada May 3 October 13 163
Waterloo Ontario Canada May 8 October 5 150
Wawa Ontario Canada May 28 September 29 124
Welland Ontario Canada May 6 October 14 161
Whitby Ontario Canada April 30 October 15 168
Windsor Ontario Canada April 17 November 1 198
Woodstock Ontario Canada May 3 October 16 166
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island Canada May 17 October 18 154
Summerside Prince Edward Island Canada May 17 October 18 154
Amos Quebec Canada May 31 September 16 108
Baie-Comeau Quebec Canada May 29 September 21 115
Chibougamau Quebec Canada May 17 October 2 138
Drummondville Quebec Canada May 12 September 27 138
Forestville Quebec Canada May 20 September 27 130
Gatineau Quebec Canada April 30 October 6 159
Granby Quebec Canada May 6 October 8 155
Matagami Quebec Canada June 18 September 30 104
Montreal Quebec Canada April 29 October 14 168
Quebec City Quebec Canada May 10 October 5 148
Repentigny Quebec Canada May 12 September 27 138
Rimouski Quebec Canada May 16 October 14 151
Rouyn-Noranda Quebec Canada May 25 September 25 123
Saguenay Quebec Canada May 20 September 27 130
Saint-Hyacinthe Quebec Canada May 12 September 27 138
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Quebec Canada May 6 October 8 155
Sept-Îles Quebec Canada June 7 September 13 98
Shawinigan Quebec Canada May 12 September 27 138
Sherbrooke Quebec Canada May 19 September 30 134
Terrebonne Quebec Canada April 29 October 14 168
Trois-Rivières Quebec Canada May 12 September 27 138
Val-d'Or Quebec Canada May 31 September 16 108
Estevan Saskatchewan Canada May 17 September 17 123
Humboldt Saskatchewan Canada May 19 September 15 119
Kindersley Saskatchewan Canada May 30 September 10 103
La Ronge Saskatchewan Canada June 15 September 2 79
Meadow Lake Saskatchewan Canada May 30 September 4 97
Melfort Saskatchewan Canada May 23 September 15 115
North Battleford Saskatchewan Canada May 26 September 13 110
Prince Albert Saskatchewan Canada May 24 September 15 114
Regina Saskatchewan Canada May 23 September 14 114
Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada May 19 September 15 119
Swift Current Saskatchewan Canada May 19 September 19 123
Weyburn Saskatchewan Canada May 17 September 17 123
Yorkton Saskatchewan Canada May 20 September 18 121
Whitehorse Yukon Canada June 3 August 28 86
Anchorage Alaska United States May 1 September 29 151
Homer Alaska United States May 10 September 29 142
Juneau Alaska United States May 3 October 14 164
Kenai Alaska United States June 1 September 8 99
Palmer Alaska United States May 22 September 16 117
Soldotna Alaska United States June 11 September 1 82
Wasilla Alaska United States May 16 September 23 130
Alamosa Colorado United States May 30 September 17 110
Boulder Colorado United States May 6 October 5 152
Colorado Springs Colorado United States May 3 October 8 158
Denver Colorado United States April 30 October 12 165
Durango Colorado United States May 28 September 30 125
Fort Collins Colorado United States May 3 October 6 156
Grand Junction Colorado United States April 14 October 23 192
Greeley Colorado United States May 2 October 8 159
Longmont Colorado United States May 7 October 5 151
Loveland Colorado United States May 12 October 1 142
Montrose Colorado United States May 20 October 1 134
Pueblo Colorado United States April 26 October 13 170
Sterling Colorado United States April 30 October 9 162
Boise Idaho United States May 17 October 12 148
Coeur d'Alene Idaho United States April 22 October 18 179
Idaho Falls Idaho United States May 23 September 20 120
Lewiston Idaho United States April 6 October 26 203
Moscow Idaho United States April 29 October 2 156
Nampa Idaho United States April 29 October 13 167
Pocatello Idaho United States May 16 October 2 139
Rexburg Idaho United States May 12 September 24 135
Sandpoint Idaho United States May 8 September 28 143
Twin Falls Idaho United States May 9 October 4 148
Bloomington Illinois United States April 21 October 20 182
Carbondale Illinois United States April 9 October 22 196
Champaign Illinois United States April 15 October 24 192
Decatur Illinois United States April 14 October 24 193
Peoria Illinois United States April 16 October 23 190
Quincy Illinois United States April 8 October 30 205
Rockford Illinois United States April 24 October 17 176
Springfield Illinois United States April 15 October 22 190
Bloomington Indiana United States April 15 October 26 194
Evansville Indiana United States March 29 November 10 226
Fort Wayne Indiana United States April 24 October 21 180
Indianapolis Indiana United States April 20 October 21 184
Lafayette Indiana United States April 26 October 18 175
South Bend Indiana United States April 23 October 23 183
Terre Haute Indiana United States April 15 October 19 187
Ames Iowa United States April 26 October 8 165
Cedar Rapids Iowa United States April 28 October 12 167
Council Bluffs Iowa United States April 18 October 21 186
Davenport Iowa United States April 19 October 22 186
Decorah Iowa United States May 3 October 7 157
Des Moines Iowa United States April 18 October 20 185
Dubuque Iowa United States April 19 October 21 185
Iowa City Iowa United States April 29 October 9 163
Mason City Iowa United States April 29 October 7 161
Sioux City Iowa United States April 29 October 7 161
Waterloo Iowa United States April 27 October 10 166
Emporia Kansas United States April 15 October 23 191
Hays Kansas United States April 25 October 15 173
Lawrence Kansas United States April 21 October 17 179
Manhattan Kansas United States April 16 October 19 186
Salina Kansas United States April 18 October 23 188
Topeka Kansas United States April 16 October 22 189
Wichita Kansas United States April 11 October 29 201
Augusta Maine United States April 27 October 16 172
Bangor Maine United States May 4 October 4 153
Houlton Maine United States May 19 September 23 127
Lewiston Maine United States April 25 October 19 177
Millinocket Maine United States May 13 September 30 140
Portland Maine United States April 26 October 15 172
Presque Isle Maine United States May 14 September 26 135
Boston Massachusetts United States April 4 November 9 219
Lowell Massachusetts United States April 30 October 10 163
Springfield Massachusetts United States May 3 October 8 158
Worcester Massachusetts United States April 23 October 21 181
Ann Arbor Michigan United States May 5 October 10 158
Battle Creek Michigan United States May 6 October 12 159
Detroit Michigan United States April 21 October 31 193
Escanaba Michigan United States May 19 October 1 135
Flint Michigan United States May 3 October 13 163
Grand Rapids Michigan United States May 6 October 10 157
Holland Michigan United States April 28 October 21 176
Houghton Michigan United States May 17 October 1 137
Iron River Michigan United States June 4 September 10 98
Ironwood Michigan United States May 19 September 28 132
Jackson Michigan United States May 1 October 14 166
Kalamazoo Michigan United States April 28 October 18 173
Lansing Michigan United States May 1 October 13 165
Marquette Michigan United States May 8 October 21 166
Munising Michigan United States May 16 October 14 151
Muskegon Michigan United States April 30 October 19 172
Saginaw Michigan United States April 29 October 21 175
Sault Ste. Marie Michigan United States May 9 October 11 155
Traverse City Michigan United States May 9 October 15 159
Alexandria Minnesota United States May 2 October 8 159
Bemidji Minnesota United States May 17 September 26 132
Brainerd Minnesota United States May 8 September 29 144
Crookston Minnesota United States May 11 September 27 139
Duluth Minnesota United States May 14 October 12 151
Grand Rapids Minnesota United States May 17 September 24 130
Hibbing Minnesota United States June 5 September 8 95
International Falls Minnesota United States May 28 September 16 111
Mankato Minnesota United States April 30 October 9 162
Minneapolis Minnesota United States April 23 October 16 176
Moorhead Minnesota United States May 4 October 2 151
Owatonna Minnesota United States May 5 October 6 154
Rochester Minnesota United States April 30 October 6 159
Roseau Minnesota United States May 16 September 24 131
Saint Paul Minnesota United States April 24 October 16 175
St. Cloud Minnesota United States May 3 October 7 157
Thief River Falls Minnesota United States May 14 September 28 137
Virginia Minnesota United States May 12 October 1 142
Warroad Minnesota United States May 16 September 24 131
Willmar Minnesota United States April 30 October 7 160
Winona Minnesota United States April 21 October 19 181
Columbia Missouri United States April 5 October 31 209
Jefferson City Missouri United States April 10 October 26 199
Kansas City Missouri United States April 4 November 2 212
Kirksville Missouri United States April 21 October 19 181
Springfield Missouri United States April 4 October 27 206
St. Joseph Missouri United States April 19 October 17 181
St. Louis Missouri United States April 1 November 4 217
Billings Montana United States May 10 October 1 144
Bozeman Montana United States May 26 September 22 119
Butte Montana United States June 13 September 5 84
Cut Bank Montana United States May 24 September 15 114
Great Falls Montana United States May 6 October 1 148
Helena Montana United States June 4 September 14 102
Kalispell Montana United States May 31 September 10 102
Lewistown Montana United States May 14 September 28 137
Miles City Montana United States May 8 September 30 145
Missoula Montana United States May 10 October 1 144
Sidney Montana United States May 11 September 27 139
Whitefish Montana United States May 16 September 25 132
Wolf Point Montana United States May 8 September 28 143
Grand Island Nebraska United States April 23 October 15 175
Hastings Nebraska United States April 22 October 16 177
Kearney Nebraska United States April 30 October 10 163
Lincoln Nebraska United States April 24 October 13 172
Norfolk Nebraska United States May 1 October 4 156
North Platte Nebraska United States May 3 October 10 160
Omaha Nebraska United States April 18 October 21 186
Scottsbluff Nebraska United States May 13 October 2 142
Berlin New Hampshire United States May 14 September 30 139
Concord New Hampshire United States May 8 October 3 148
Keene New Hampshire United States May 14 October 1 140
Littleton New Hampshire United States May 24 September 18 117
Manchester New Hampshire United States April 30 October 11 164
Nashua New Hampshire United States April 29 October 8 162
Portsmouth New Hampshire United States May 4 October 8 157
Albany New York United States April 27 October 15 171
Binghamton New York United States May 2 October 11 162
Buffalo New York United States April 24 October 26 185
Ithaca New York United States May 11 October 3 145
Malone New York United States May 6 October 4 151
Massena New York United States May 8 October 1 146
Plattsburgh New York United States May 6 October 5 152
Rochester New York United States April 24 October 25 184
Saranac Lake New York United States June 2 September 9 99
Syracuse New York United States April 29 October 19 173
Watertown New York United States May 2 October 13 164
Bismarck North Dakota United States May 14 September 30 139
Bottineau North Dakota United States May 15 September 25 133
Devils Lake North Dakota United States May 12 September 30 141
Dickinson North Dakota United States May 20 September 22 125
Fargo North Dakota United States May 10 September 30 143
Grafton North Dakota United States May 4 October 7 156
Grand Forks North Dakota United States May 10 October 1 144
Jamestown North Dakota United States May 8 September 29 144
Minot North Dakota United States May 13 September 27 137
Rugby North Dakota United States May 17 September 23 129
Valley City North Dakota United States May 13 September 26 136
Williston North Dakota United States May 13 September 26 136
Akron Ohio United States April 24 October 28 187
Cincinnati Ohio United States April 16 October 25 192
Cleveland Ohio United States April 8 November 12 218
Columbus Ohio United States April 20 October 24 187
Dayton Ohio United States April 18 October 25 190
Toledo Ohio United States April 20 October 27 190
Albany Oregon United States April 17 October 28 194
Ashland Oregon United States June 8 September 24 108
Bend Oregon United States June 6 September 20 106
Corvallis Oregon United States April 17 October 28 194
Eugene Oregon United States April 11 October 23 195
Hood River Oregon United States May 13 October 3 143
La Grande Oregon United States May 6 October 1 148
Medford Oregon United States April 8 October 29 204
Pendleton Oregon United States April 22 October 9 170
Portland Oregon United States February 25 December 1 279
Roseburg Oregon United States March 19 November 20 246
Salem Oregon United States April 3 November 1 212
Allentown Pennsylvania United States April 20 October 24 187
Erie Pennsylvania United States April 26 November 4 192
Harrisburg Pennsylvania United States April 15 October 23 191
Lancaster Pennsylvania United States April 19 October 24 188
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania United States April 24 October 27 186
Scranton Pennsylvania United States April 23 October 20 180
Aberdeen South Dakota United States May 8 September 29 144
Brookings South Dakota United States May 6 October 1 148
Rapid City South Dakota United States May 3 October 8 158
Sioux Falls South Dakota United States May 1 October 6 158
Spearfish South Dakota United States May 12 October 2 143
Watertown South Dakota United States May 7 September 30 146
Burlington Vermont United States April 29 October 15 169
Montpelier Vermont United States May 5 October 9 157
Newport Vermont United States May 14 September 30 139
Rutland Vermont United States May 15 September 27 135
St. Johnsbury Vermont United States May 13 October 3 143
Bellingham Washington United States April 1 November 2 215
Bremerton Washington United States March 29 November 14 230
Everett Washington United States March 24 November 2 223
Moses Lake Washington United States April 27 October 8 164
Mount Vernon Washington United States March 24 November 3 224
Olympia Washington United States April 29 October 14 168
Port Angeles Washington United States March 12 November 19 252
Seattle Washington United States March 13 November 17 249
Spokane Washington United States April 26 October 12 169
Tacoma Washington United States March 8 November 14 251
Vancouver Washington United States April 26 October 18 175
Walla Walla Washington United States March 27 October 31 218
Wenatchee Washington United States April 4 October 28 207
Yakima Washington United States May 5 October 4 152
Appleton Wisconsin United States May 4 October 6 155
Ashland Wisconsin United States May 20 October 2 135
Eau Claire Wisconsin United States April 24 October 14 173
Green Bay Wisconsin United States April 30 October 9 162
Hayward Wisconsin United States May 23 September 22 122
Janesville Wisconsin United States April 26 October 15 172
Kenosha Wisconsin United States April 19 October 26 190
La Crosse Wisconsin United States April 27 October 13 169
Madison Wisconsin United States May 1 October 9 161
Manitowoc Wisconsin United States April 30 October 20 173
Merrill Wisconsin United States May 11 September 30 142
Milwaukee Wisconsin United States April 26 October 22 179
Oshkosh Wisconsin United States April 24 October 20 179
Racine Wisconsin United States April 20 October 24 187
Rhinelander Wisconsin United States May 23 September 23 123
Rice Lake Wisconsin United States May 8 October 2 147
Sheboygan Wisconsin United States May 2 October 21 172
Stevens Point Wisconsin United States May 4 October 7 156
Superior Wisconsin United States May 18 October 3 138
Wausau Wisconsin United States May 6 October 4 151
Casper Wyoming United States May 26 September 22 119
Cheyenne Wyoming United States May 14 October 1 140
Cody Wyoming United States May 27 September 25 121
Gillette Wyoming United States May 21 September 23 125
Jackson Wyoming United States June 20 August 31 72
Laramie Wyoming United States June 2 September 15 105
Riverton Wyoming United States May 12 September 24 135
Rock Springs Wyoming United States May 22 September 28 129
Sheridan Wyoming United States May 18 September 24 129

How to use frost dates

Frost dates are planning anchors, not exact promises. The last spring frost helps estimate when frost-sensitive crops such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers, squash, beans, corn, and melons can usually move outdoors. The first fall frost helps estimate whether a crop has enough time to size up, ripen, or finish before cold weather returns.

  • Last spring frost — the average date after which spring frost risk usually drops.
  • First fall frost — the average date when fall frost risk begins returning.
  • Frost-free days — the approximate number of days between those two dates.

A longer frost-free season gives warm-season crops more room to mature. A shorter season usually means earlier varieties, indoor starts, row cover, warm microclimates, or more conservative crop choices matter more. For a visual comparison of Canadian city seasons, see the Canada Garden Climate Atlas.

What frost-free days do and do not tell you

Frost-free days are useful for comparing season length, but they do not tell the whole story. Two cities can have similar frost-free windows but very different summer heat. For heat-loving crops, compare this table with Growing Degree Days by City. For a ranked view of the tightest seasons, see Cities With the Shortest Growing Seasons.

Common frost-date questions

Can I plant on the average last spring frost date?

Usually not for tender crops. The average last frost date is a planning reference, not a safety guarantee. Tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers, squash, beans, corn, and melons should usually wait until the forecast is warm enough, nights are stable, and the soil has warmed.

Why might my garden frost later than the city average?

Low spots, exposed sites, rural edges, elevation, wind, shade, and cold-air drainage can all make a garden colder than the city average. Use the city date as a starting point, then adjust for your site.

What are frost-free days useful for?

Frost-free days help estimate the outdoor calendar window between spring and fall frost. They are useful for comparing season length, choosing faster varieties, and deciding whether crops need indoor starts or protection.

Are frost dates enough for warm-season crops?

No. Frost dates show the outdoor window, but they do not show how warm the season is. For tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, cucumbers, and melons, compare frost dates with Growing Degree Days by City.

What should I do if my city is not listed?

Use the Frost Date Finder to search by ZIP or postal code. Nearby cities can be useful for comparison, but elevation, distance from water, and local cold pockets can shift frost timing.

Before planting tender crops

Always check the actual forecast before setting tender plants outdoors. Averages are helpful for planning, but a late cold snap can still happen after the average last frost date. If your site is exposed, low-lying, windy, or outside town, it may run colder than the city average.