Knowing your location helps us recommend plants that will thrive in your climate, based on your Growing Zone.
Posted By High Country Gardens Content Team on Apr 4, 2024 Ā· Revised on Sep 17, 2025
Frost dates are important because they signal the start and end of the gardening season. These charts can help you estimate your first fall frost date and your last spring frost date so that you can plan when to plant.
Jump to a section to dig in:
The chart below includes average frost dates for cities across the U.S.
| City, State | First Fall Frost Date | Last Spring Frost Date |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | November 18 | March 17 |
| Baltimore, MD | November 17 | March 20 |
| Bismarck, ND | September 24 | May 12 |
| Boise, ID | October 17 | April 20 |
| Boston, MA | November 8 | April 6 |
| Buffalo, NY | October 25 | May 5 |
| Burlington, VT | October 8 | May 4 |
| Caribou, ME | September 21 | May 12 |
| Charleston, SC | December 10 | February 6 |
| Charleston, WV | October 5 | April 16 |
| Cheyenne, WY | September 27 | May 13 |
| Chicago, IL | October 28 | April 12 |
| Cincinnati, OH | October 25 | April 17 |
| Cleveland, OH | October 20 | April 8 |
| Columbia, SC | November 20 | March 15 |
| Dallax, TX | November 30 | March 4 |
| Denver, CO | October 14 | April 30 |
| Detroit, MI | October 20 | April 18 |
| Houston, TX | December 11 | February 3 |
| Indianapolis, IN | October 27 | April 19 |
| Jacksonville, FL | December 16 | February 6 |
| Kansas City, MO | November 2 | April 4 |
| Las Vegas, NV | December 4 | February 6 |
| Miami, FL | no frost | no frost |
| Milwaukee, WI | October 25 | April 22 |
| Minneapolis, MN | October 13 | April 23 |
| Mobile, AL | December 12 | February 26 |
| Nashville, TN | November 7 | April 6 |
| Newark, NJ | November 8 | April 3 |
| New Orleans, LA | December 23 | February 4 |
| New York, NY | November 12 | April 1 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | November 7 | March 27 |
| Philadelphia, PA | November 17 | March 31 |
| Phoenix, AZ | December 11 | January 6 |
| Pittsfield, MA | October 4 | May 7 |
| Portland, OR | December 1 | February 26 |
| Providence, RI | October 27 | April 13 |
| Raleigh, NC | November 16 | April 1 |
| Richmond, VA | November 8 | April 4 |
| Sacramento, CA | December 10 | February 9 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | November 6 | April 10 |
| Seattle, WA | December 1 | April 6 |
| St. Louis, MO | November 8 | April 9 |
| Washington, DC | November 17 | March 28 |
Average frost dates by zone include data for a wide range of climates and locations. These dates can vary year by year.
Not sure what zone you're in? See our guide: USDA Hardiness Map & Finding Your Zone
Ā
| Zone | Average First Frost Date | Average Last Frost Date |
| 1 | August 25-31 | May 22-June 4 |
| 2 | September 1-8 | May 15-22 |
| 3 | September 8-15Ā | May 1-16 |
| 4 | September 21-October 7 | April 24-May 12 |
| 5 | October 13-21 | April 7-30 |
| 6 | October 17-31 | April 1-21 |
| 7 | October 29-November 15 | March 22-April 3 |
| 8 | November 7-28 | March 13-28 |
| 9 | November 25-December 13 | February 6-28 |
| 10 | December 15 - December 31 | January 1 - January 15 |
| 11+ | No usual frost | No usual frost |
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