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Frost dates and planting calendar for Schenectady, New York

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

USDA hardiness zone
6a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 27[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 15[3]
Growing season, median
169 days[4]

Schenectady, New York is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map[1]. The median last spring frost is April 27, which means that in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 16, half of years Apr 27, 1 in 10 years after May 11Last frostmedian Apr 27First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 1, half of years Oct 15, 1 in 10 years before Oct 3First frostmedian Oct 15Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 27around Apr 27Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 11from May 11
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 NOAA climate normals for the Albany Airport weather station[5]. They use 29 years of records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after April 16, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 11[2]. In the fall, the median first frost is October 15, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 3[3]. These are odds from past years and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[2].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 16 after April 27 after May 11
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 3 before October 15 before November 1
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 16, median first fall date October 28[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 150 days in 9 of 10 years, 169 days in half of years and 191 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: Albany Airport (USW00014735), 7.3 miles from the city center, 312 feet, 29 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

The planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension, and their guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts used the NOAA median last frost of April 27 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 30 to April 13[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots, beets and potatoes can go in as early as April 13[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can start from seed around April 27[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the last frost, so the earliest start is May 11[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 27) is March 30 to April 13[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 27) is April 13, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 27[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 27), is May 11[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jun 3 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jun 23 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 19
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 29
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jul 18
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jun 3
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 30 Apr 29
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 9
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 19
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 13 Jun 12
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 13 Jun 22
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 13 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 13 Jun 22
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 13 Aug 16
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 13 Jun 12
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 27 Jun 26
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 27 Jun 26
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 27 Jun 21
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 27 Jun 16
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 11 Aug 4
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 11 Jul 10 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 11 Jul 20 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 11 Jul 15 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 11 Aug 19
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 11 Aug 4
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

Zone 6a means the average coldest night of the year was -10°F to -5°F from 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter lows and not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Most of the city, 91% of its land area, lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6a, and 9% lies in areas rated zone 5b[15].

Zone 6a: average annual extreme minimum temperature -10°F to -5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -9.5°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 6a 91%, zone 5b 9%[15].

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
12304[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
12308[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
12305[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
12309[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
12303[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
12306[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
12307[15] 6a -10 to -5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Schenectady?
The center of Schenectady is in USDA zone 6a on the 2023 map[1]. About 9% of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated zone 5b[15].
When is the last frost in Schenectady?
The median last spring frost is April 27, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 11[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Schenectady?
CSU Extension typically starts tomatoes 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, which works out to May 11 as the earliest start here[11]. CSU's guide was written for Colorado[11].
When is the first frost in Schenectady?
The median first fall frost is October 15, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 3[3].
How long is the growing season in Schenectady?
The growing season is at least 169 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 150 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Schenectady, New York in zone 6a. Zone 6a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -10°F to -5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 9.5°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 16, in half of years after April 27, and in 1 of 10 years after May 11 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 27. 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 3, in half of years before October 15, and in 9 of 10 years before November 1 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 15. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 150 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 169 days in half of years, and at least 191 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Albany Airport weather station (USW00014735), 7.3 miles from the center of Schenectady at 312 feet, using 29 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 16 and the median first fall date is October 28. 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 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
  11. 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
  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. Schenectady, New York overlaps 7 ZIP code areas. By land area, 91% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6a, 9% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 5b. 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.