Frost Chart for United States |
Every year, as the gardening season draws to a close gardeners everywhere scramble to protect those last few beloved plants from the icy grip of the first frosts of the season. Or perhaps they simply want to get a jump on the growing season by getting many crops in the ground earlier than they normally would. Many savvy gardeners will view the first or last frost as simply a weather related challenge to test their ability to thwart "Mother Nature" in her attempt to stop or hinder their efforts and will employ time honored techniques to squeeze out a few more weeks of production out of their gardens. Perhaps they will employ tricks and techniques to get their gardens started earlier than nature might otherwise allow. They will employ sheets, blankets, cloches and for a lucky few, they will simply turn their attention to a greenhouse. But by whatever means that gardeners use, being prepared ahead of time is the key to success because that first or last frost or killing freeze can come without warning. Here is a handy chart to help plan ahead for those frosts or last frosts and have protection ready when it comes.
Courtesy of National Climatic Center
Also see our Frost Chart for Canada. Dates given are normal averages for a light freeze (32 degrees 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 freeze temperatures is usually based on their effect on plants, with the following commonly accepted categories: Light freeze: 29 degrees F to 32 degrees F -- tender plants killed, with little destructive effect on other vegetation. Moderate freeze: 25 degrees F to 28 degrees F -- widely destructive effect on most vegetation, with heavy damage to fruit blossoms and tender and semi-hardy plants. Severe freeze: 24 degrees F and colder -- damage to most plants. City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Mobile | AL | 272 | Feb. 27 | Nov. 26 | | Juneau | AK | 133 | May 16 | Sept. 26 | | Phoenix | AZ | 308 | Feb. 5 | Dec. 15 | | Tucson | AZ | 273 | Feb. 28 | Nov. 29 | | Pine Bluff | AR | 234 | Mar. 19 | Nov. 8 | | Eureka | CA | 324 | Jan. 30 | Dec. 15 | | Sacramento | CA | 289 | Feb. 14 | Dec. 1 | | San Francisco | CA | * | * | * | | Denver | CO | 157 | May 3 | Oct. 8 | | Hartford | CT | 167 | Apr. 25 | Oct. 10 | City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Wilmington | DE | 198 | Apr. 13 | Oct. 29 | | Miami | FL | * | * | * | | Tampa | FL | 338 | Jan. 28 | Jan. 3 | | Athens | GA | 224 | Mar. 28 | Nov. 8 | | Savannah | GA | 250 | Mar. 10 | Nov. 15 | | Boise | ID | 153 | May 8 | Oct. 9 | | Chicago | IL | 187 | Apr. 22 | Oct. 26 | | Springfield | IL | 185 | Apr. 17 | Oct. 19 | | Indianapolis | IN | 180 | Apr. 22 | Oct. 20 | | South Bend | IN | 169 | May 1 | Oct. 18 | City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Atlantic | IA | 141 | May 9 | Sept. 28 | | Cedar Rapids | IA | 161 | Apr. 29 | Oct. 7 | | Topeka | KS | 175 | Apr. 21 | Oct. 14 | | Lexington | KY | 190 | Apr. 17 | Oct. 25 | | Monroe | LA | 242 | Mar. 9 | Nov. 7 | | New Orleans | LA | 288 | Feb. 20 | Dec. 5 | | Portland | ME | 143 | May 10 | Sept. 30 | | Baltimore | MD | 231 | Mar. 26 | Nov. 13 | | Worcester | MA | 172 | Apr. 27 | Oct. 17 | | Lansing | MI | 140 | May 13 | Sept. 30 | | Marquette | MI | 159 | May 12 | Oct. 19 | City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Duluth | MN | 122 | May 21 | Sept. 21 | | Willmar | MN | 152 | May 4 | Oct. 4 | | Columbus | MS | 215 | Mar. 27 | Oct. 29 | | Vicksburg | MS | 250 | Mar. 13 | Nov. 18 | | Jefferson City | MO | 173 | Apr. 26 | Oct. 16 | | Fort Peck | MT | 146 | May 5 | Sept. 28 | | Helena | MT | 122 | May 18 | Sept. 18 | | Blair | NE | 165 | Apr. 27 | Oct. 10 | | North Platte | NE | 136 | May 11 | Sept. 24 | | Las Vegas | NV | 259 | Mar. 7 | Nov. 21 | | Concord | NH | 121 | May 23 | Sept. 22 | City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Newark | NJ | 219 | Apr. 4 | Nov. 10 | | Carlsbad | NM | 223 | Mar. 29 | Nov. 7 | | Los Alamos | NM | 157 | May 8 | Oct. 13 | | Albany | NY | 144 | May 7 | Sept. 29 | | Syracuse | NY | 170 | Apr. 28 | Oct. 16 | | Fayetteville | NC | 212 | Apr. 2 | Oct. 31 | | Bismarck | ND | 129 | May 14 | Sept. 20 | | Akron | OH | 168 | May 3 | Oct. 18 | | Cincinnati | OH | 195 | Apr. 14 | Oct. 27 | | Lawton | OK | 217 | Apr. 1 | Nov. 5 | | Tulsa | OK | 218 | Mar. 30 | Nov. 4 | City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Pendleton | OR | 188 | Apr. 15 | Oct. 21 | | Portland | OR | 217 | Apr. 3 | Nov. 7 | | Carlisle | PA | 182 | Apr. 20 | Oct. 20 | | Williamsport | PA | 168 | Apr. 29 | Oct. 15 | | Kingston | RI | 144 | May 8 | Sept. 30 | | Charleston | SC | 253 | Mar. 11 | Nov. 20 | | Columbia | SC | 211 | Apr. 4 | Nov. 2 | | Rapid City | SD | 145 | May 7 | Sept. 29 | | Memphis | TN | 228 | Mar. 23 | Nov. 7 | | Nashville | TN | 207 | Apr. 5 | Oct. 29 | City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Amarillo | TX | 197 | Apr. 14 | Oct. 29 | | Denton | TX | 231 | Mar. 25 | Nov. 12 | | San Antonio | TX | 265 | Mar. 3 | Nov. 24 | | Cedar City | UT | 134 | May 20 | Oct. 2 | | Spanish Fork | UT | 156 | May 8 | Oct. 12 | | Burlington | VT | 142 | May 11 | Oct. 1 | | Norfolk | VA | 239 | Mar. 23 | Nov. 17 | | Richmond | VA | 198 | Apr. 10 | Oct. 26 | | Seattle | WA | 232 | Mar. 24 | Nov. 11 | | Spokane | WA | 153 | May 4 | Oct. 5 | | Parkersburg | WV | 175 | Apr. 25 | Oct. 18 | City | State | Average Growing Season
(Length in Days) | Last Frost
Spring | First Frost
Fall | | Green Bay | WI | 143 | May 12 | Oct. 2 | | Janesville | WI | 164 | Apr. 28 | Oct. 10 | | Casper | WY | 123 | May 22 | Sept. 22 |
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