Pocatello, Idaho planting calendar and frost dates
Pocatello is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 16 and the first fall frost around October 2, giving about 137 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- May 16
- Typical first frost
- October 2
- Frost-free season
- 137 days
Frost dates in Pocatello
Last spring frost
- April 30Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
- June 6Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 14Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 2Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 18Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 137 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around May 1 and returns around October 13.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pocatello 2 Ne, 2.5 miles NNE of the city center and 147 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Pocatello
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
April
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Pocatello
All 3 of Pocatello's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Pocatello 2 Ne, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6a in 83202, 83204, and 6b in 83201.
Planting dates for popular crops in Pocatello
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 8 to 22 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Apr 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 9 to 23 | Jul 3 to Aug 7 |
| Cilantro | Apr 4 to 18 | May 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Apr 15 to 29 | Jun 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Garlic | — | Apr 4 to 18 | Oct 2 to 16 |
| Onions | Jan 24 to Mar 7 | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 6 to 20 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 6 to 20 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 18 to Apr 15 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 25 to May 16 | Jul 10 to 31 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 21 to 28 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 29 to May 13 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Zucchini | May 6 to 20 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 28 to Mar 21 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 17 to Aug 14 |
| Peas | — | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 10 to 24 |
| Spinach | Apr 4 to 11 | May 9 to 23 | Jul 24 to Aug 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 16 to Jun 6 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 6 to 13 | Jul 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 21 to Oct 16 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 21 to Oct 2 |
| Grass Seed | — | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
Nearby cities
- Idaho Falls, ID zone 5b, last frost May 23
- Logan, UT zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Twin Falls, ID zone 6b, last frost May 9
- Ogden, UT zone 7a, last frost Apr 22
- Layton, UT zone 7a, last frost Apr 22
- Salt Lake City, UT zone 7b, last frost Apr 8
Planting in IdahoAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Pocatello
Questions
When is the last frost in Pocatello?
Around May 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Pocatello 2 Ne. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after June 6.
What planting zone is Pocatello in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Pocatello?
Start seeds indoors April 8 to 22 and set plants out June 3 to 17; the safest date to plant out is after June 6.
When is the first frost in Pocatello?
Around October 2 in a typical year, and before September 14 about 1 year in 10.