Carson City, Nevada planting calendar and frost dates
Carson City is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 4 and the first fall frost around October 6, giving about 152 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- May 4
- Typical first frost
- October 6
- Frost-free season
- 152 days
Frost dates in Carson City
Last spring frost
- April 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 4Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 29Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 24Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 20Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 152 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 April 20 and returns around October 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Carson City, 4.4 miles ENE of the city center and 485 feet lower. 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 Carson City
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Carson City
Carson City's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from May 4 in 89701 to June 7 in 89703. The hardiness zone is 7a in 89701, and 7b in 89703, 89706.
Planting dates for popular crops in Carson City
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 3 to 17 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Jul 7 to Aug 11 |
| Cilantro | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Basil | Apr 10 to 24 | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Jan 12 to Feb 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 1 to 15 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 1 to 15 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 13 to Apr 10 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 13 to May 4 | Jul 14 to Aug 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Zucchini | May 1 to 15 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 16 to Mar 9 | Apr 6 to 20 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Peas | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Jul 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Mar 23 to 30 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 4 to 25 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 4 to 11 | Jul 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
Nearby cities
- Reno, NV zone 7b, last frost Apr 20
- Sparks, NV zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
- Folsom, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Rocklin, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Lincoln, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 11
- Roseville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in NevadaAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Carson City
Questions
When is the last frost in Carson City?
Around May 4 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Carson City. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 29.
What planting zone is Carson City in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Carson City?
Start seeds indoors April 3 to 17 and set plants out May 29 to June 12.
When is the first frost in Carson City?
Around October 6 in a typical year, and before September 24 about 1 year in 10.