Hempstead, New York planting calendar and frost dates
Hempstead is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 2 and the first fall frost around November 14, giving about 226 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- April 2
- Typical first frost
- November 14
- Frost-free season
- 226 days
Frost dates in Hempstead
Last spring frost
- March 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 14Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 226 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 March 23 and returns around November 26.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New York Jfk International Airport, 8.6 miles WSW 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 Hempstead
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, 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
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, 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, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: potatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
September
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
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, 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
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Planting dates for popular crops in Hempstead
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Cilantro | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 15 to 22 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 13 to 20 | Jul 25 to Aug 1 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Nov 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Dec 11 to Jan 22 | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| 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 12 to Apr 2 | Aug 22 to Sep 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 31 to Jun 7 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 10 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Green Beans | — | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 15 to Feb 5 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 29 to Sep 26 |
| Peas | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Spinach | Feb 19 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Sep 5 to Oct 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 13 to May 4 | — |
| Zinnias | May 18 to 25 | Jun 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Oct 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- New York, NY zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- New Rochelle, NY zone 7b, last frost Apr 12
- Mount Vernon, NY zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Yonkers, NY zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- West New York, NJ zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Hoboken, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
Planting in New YorkAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Hempstead
Questions
When is the last frost in Hempstead?
Around April 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for New York Jfk International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 13.
What planting zone is Hempstead in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Hempstead?
Start seeds indoors March 20 to April 3 and set plants out May 15 to 29.
When is the first frost in Hempstead?
Around November 14 in a typical year, and before November 2 about 1 year in 10.