Sparks, Nevada planting calendar and frost dates
Sparks is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 20 and the first fall frost around October 23, giving about 184 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 20
- Typical first frost
- October 23
- Frost-free season
- 184 days
Frost dates in Sparks
Last spring frost
- April 6Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 20Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 5Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 11Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 23Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 3Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 184 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 3 and returns around November 2.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Reno Tahoe International Airport, 3.9 miles SE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Sparks shares this station with Reno, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Sparks
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, 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
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Sparks
All 3 of Sparks's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Reno Tahoe International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 7a in 89431, 89436, and 7b in 89434.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89431 | 7a | Reno Tahoe International Airport, 3.9 mi SE | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
| 89434 | 7b | Reno Tahoe International Airport, 3.9 mi SE | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
| 89436 | 7a | Reno Tahoe International Airport, 3.9 mi SE | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
Reno Tahoe International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Reno, so their planting calendars match Sparks's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Sparks
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 13 to 27 | Jul 24 to Aug 28 |
| Cilantro | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Basil | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 15 to 22 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 9 to 23 | Oct 23 to Nov 6 |
| Onions | Dec 29 to Feb 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 27 to Mar 27 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 30 to Apr 20 | Jul 31 to Aug 21 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 10 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 2 to 23 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 7 to Sep 4 |
| Peas | — | Mar 9 to 23 | Jul 31 to Aug 14 |
| Spinach | Mar 9 to 16 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 14 to Sep 18 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 20 to May 11 | — |
| Zinnias | May 22 to 29 | Jun 19 to Jul 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 11 to Nov 6 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 11 to Oct 23 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 9 to 23 | Sep 11 to 25 |
Nearby cities
- Reno, NV zone 7b, last frost Apr 20
- Carson City, NV zone 7b, last frost May 4
- Lincoln, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 11
- Rocklin, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Folsom, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Roseville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in NevadaAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Sparks
Questions
When is the last frost in Sparks?
Around April 20 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Reno Tahoe International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 5.
What planting zone is Sparks in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Sparks?
Start seeds indoors March 20 to April 3 and set plants out May 15 to 29.
When is the first frost in Sparks?
Around October 23 in a typical year, and before October 11 about 1 year in 10.