Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Elmhurst, NY
Plan your garden around Elmhurst, NY's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
March 26
Safe Apr 6
Typical Mar 26
Risky Mar 12
First Fall Frost
November 25
Safe Nov 10
Typical Nov 25
Risky Dec 10
Growing Season
244 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 7b
Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.
Data: NOAA station NEW YORK LAGUARDIA AP, NY US, 4.8 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | — | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Mar 5 – Mar 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | — | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | — | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Sep 30 – Oct 14 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Sep 30 – Oct 14 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Sep 16 – Sep 30 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Oct 14 – Oct 21 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Mar 5 – Mar 12 | Sep 23 – Sep 30 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | Sep 16 – Sep 23 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Sep 16 – Sep 30 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Sep 2 – Sep 16 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Sep 16 – Sep 30 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Oct 14 – Oct 28 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Sep 16 – Sep 30 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Oct 28 – Nov 11 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | Sep 30 – Oct 14 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Elmhurst, NY?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the NEW YORK LAGUARDIA AP, NY US station, the last spring frost in Elmhurst typically falls around March 26. A cautious gardener might wait until April 6 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 12 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Elmhurst, NY in fall?
The first fall frost in Elmhurst typically arrives around November 25. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 10; in milder years it can hold off until December 10.
How long is the growing season in Elmhurst, NY?
Elmhurst's average frost-free growing season is about 244 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 26) to the typical first fall frost (November 25).
What USDA hardiness zone is Elmhurst, NY in?
Elmhurst, NY is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.