Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Laramie, WY
Plan your garden around Laramie, WY's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
June 7
Safe Jun 29
Typical Jun 7
Risky May 23
First Fall Frost
September 4
Safe Aug 17
Typical Sep 4
Risky Sep 18
Growing Season
88 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 5b
A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.
Data: NOAA station LARAMIE 2 NW, WY US, 3.4 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 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | — | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | — | 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 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | — | Jun 21 – Jun 28 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | May 10 – May 17 | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 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 | May 17 – May 24 | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 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 | May 10 – May 17 | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | — | — | 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 | May 10 – May 17 | — | Jun 21 – Jun 28 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | May 10 – May 17 | — | Jun 21 – Jun 28 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jun 7 – Jun 21 | — | — | 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 | — | Jun 7 – Jun 21 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Apr 26 – May 10 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | Jul 10 – Jul 24 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Apr 26 – May 10 | — | Jul 10 – Jul 24 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 10 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | Jul 24 – Jul 31 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | May 17 – May 31 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Apr 19 – May 3 | — | May 17 – May 24 | Jul 3 – Jul 10 | 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 | Apr 19 – May 3 | — | May 24 – May 31 | Jun 26 – Jul 3 | 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 | Apr 19 – May 3 | — | May 10 – May 24 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Apr 19 – May 3 | — | May 17 – May 31 | — | 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 | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | Jun 12 – Jun 26 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 10 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | May 3 – May 17 | — | Jul 24 – Aug 7 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 10 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | 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 | — | — | — | Aug 7 – Aug 21 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | — | 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 | — | — | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | May 10 – May 24 | — | 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 | Apr 26 – May 3 | — | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 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 | — | May 17 – May 31 | — | Jul 10 – Jul 24 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | May 24 – May 31 | — | 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 | — | May 17 – May 31 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | Jun 7 – Jun 14 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | Jun 7 – Jun 14 | — | 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 | — | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | May 10 – May 17 | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Apr 26 – May 10 | — | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | May 10 – May 17 | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | Jun 14 – Jun 21 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jun 14 – Jun 28 | — | 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 Laramie, WY?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the LARAMIE 2 NW, WY US station, the last spring frost in Laramie typically falls around June 7. A cautious gardener might wait until June 29 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while May 23 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Laramie, WY in fall?
The first fall frost in Laramie typically arrives around September 4. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as August 17; in milder years it can hold off until September 18.
How long is the growing season in Laramie, WY?
Laramie's average frost-free growing season is about 88 days, running from the typical last spring frost (June 7) to the typical first fall frost (September 4).
What USDA hardiness zone is Laramie, WY in?
Laramie, WY is in USDA plant hardiness zone 5b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.