Buffalo, New York planting calendar and frost dates
Buffalo is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 26, giving about 183 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 26
- Frost-free season
- 183 days
Frost dates in Buffalo
Last spring frost
- April 11Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 9Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 10Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 26Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 9Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 183 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 13 and returns around November 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Buffalo, 8.3 miles ENE of the city center. 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 Buffalo
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: 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, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, 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, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Buffalo
All 13 of Buffalo's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Buffalo, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14203 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14204 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14206 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14207 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14210 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14211 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14212 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14213 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14214 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14215 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14216 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14220 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 14222 | 6b | Buffalo, 8.3 mi ENE | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Buffalo
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Apr 4 to 18 | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 17 to Sep 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 26 to May 17 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 1 to 8 | Jun 29 to Jul 13 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 14 to Nov 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 14 to Oct 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- Rochester, NY zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Erie, PA zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Syracuse, NY zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Youngstown, OH zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Cleveland, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Pittsburgh, PA zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
Planting in New YorkAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Buffalo
Questions
When is the last frost in Buffalo?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Buffalo. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 9.
What planting zone is Buffalo in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Buffalo?
Start seeds indoors March 28 to April 11 and set plants out May 23 to June 6.
When is the first frost in Buffalo?
Around October 26 in a typical year, and before October 10 about 1 year in 10.