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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.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a (parts in 6b)
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

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. September

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips

  10. 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.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
832016bPocatello 2 Ne, 2 mi WSWMay 16Oct 2
832026aPocatello 2 Ne, 5.7 mi SSWMay 16Oct 2
832046a———

Planting dates for popular crops in Pocatello

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesApr 8 to 22Jun 3 to 17—
Strawberries—Apr 4 to 18—
LettuceMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to 23Jul 3 to Aug 7
CilantroApr 4 to 18May 16 to 23—
BasilApr 15 to 29Jun 3 to 10—
Potatoes—Apr 30 to May 7—
Garlic—Apr 4 to 18Oct 2 to 16
OnionsJan 24 to Mar 7Apr 18 to May 2—
CucumbersMay 6 to 20Jun 3 to 17—
PumpkinsMay 6 to 20Jun 3 to 17—
PeppersMar 18 to Apr 15Jun 3 to 17—
Carrots—Apr 25 to May 16Jul 10 to 31
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 21 to 28—
WatermelonsApr 29 to May 13Jun 3 to 17—
Sweet Corn—May 16 to 30—
Green Beans—Jun 3 to 17—
ZucchiniMay 6 to 20Jun 3 to 17—
BroccoliFeb 28 to Mar 21Apr 18 to May 2Jul 17 to Aug 14
Peas—Apr 4 to 18Jul 10 to 24
SpinachApr 4 to 11May 9 to 23Jul 24 to Aug 28
Sunflowers—May 16 to Jun 6—
ZinniasJun 6 to 13Jul 4 to 18—
Tulips——Aug 21 to Oct 16
Daffodils——Aug 21 to Oct 2
Grass Seed—Apr 4 to 18Aug 21 to Sep 4

Nearby cities

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.