GardenFacts

All states › New York › Kingston

Frost dates and planting calendar for Kingston, New York

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
6b[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 21[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 27[3]
Growing season, median
188 days[4]

Kingston, New York is in USDA hardiness zone 6b at the city center[1]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 21, which is the median[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 6, half of years Apr 21, 1 in 10 years after May 5Last frostmedian Apr 21First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 9, half of years Oct 27, 1 in 10 years before Oct 12First frostmedian Oct 27Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 21around Apr 21Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 5from May 5
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates come from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Mohonk Lake weather station[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after April 6, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 5[2]. For fall, the first frost comes before October 27 in half of years, and before November 9 in 9 of 10 years[3]. These are odds from past records, not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 6 after April 21 after May 5
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 12 before October 27 before November 9
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 8, median first fall date November 6[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years, 188 days in half of years and 207 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Mohonk Lake (USC00305426), 13.8 miles from the city center, 1,245 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so GardenFacts applies its rules to the Kingston median last frost of April 21[6]. Hardy vegetables such as peas, spinach and lettuce can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 24 to April 7[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as April 7, up to the median date itself[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is May 5[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 21) is March 24 to April 7[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 21) is April 7, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 21[11]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 21), is May 5[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 28 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 24 Jun 17 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 13
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 23
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 24 Jul 12
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 28
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 24 Apr 23
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 3
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 24 May 13
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 6
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 16
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 16
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Aug 10
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 7 Jun 6
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 20
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 20
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 15
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 21 Jun 10
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 29
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 4 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 14 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 9 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 5 Aug 13
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 5 Jul 29
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Kingston in zone 6b, which means an average yearly coldest night of -5°F to 0°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. A zone is based on the coldest winter night, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. The city is not all one zone on the map. By land area, 100% of Kingston lies in a ZIP code area rated zone 6a[15].

Zone 6b: average annual extreme minimum temperature -5°F to 0°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -5°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 6a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 6b and what zone 6b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
12401[15] 6a -10 to -5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Kingston, New York?
The center of Kingston is in USDA zone 6b[1]. The one ZIP code area that overlaps the city is rated zone 6a[15].
When is the last frost in Kingston?
In half of years the last spring frost at the nearby NOAA station comes after April 21[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 5[2].
When is the first frost in Kingston?
In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 27[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 12[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Kingston?
CSU Extension puts tomatoes in the very tender group, which typically waits 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[10]. For Kingston the earliest start is May 5[10].
How long is the growing season in Kingston?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 188 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Kingston, New York in zone 6b. Zone 6b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -5°F to 0°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 5°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 6, in half of years after April 21, and in 1 of 10 years after May 5 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 21. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 12, in half of years before October 27, and in 9 of 10 years before November 9 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 27. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 188 days in half of years, and at least 207 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Mohonk Lake weather station (USC00305426), 13.8 miles from the center of Kingston at 1,245 feet, using 30 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 8 and the median first fall date is November 6. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Kingston, New York overlaps 1 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.