Schenectady, New York planting calendar and frost dates
Schenectady is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 27 and the first fall frost around October 15, giving about 169 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 27
- Typical first frost
- October 15
- Frost-free season
- 169 days
Frost dates in Schenectady
Last spring frost
- April 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 169 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 16 and returns around October 28.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Albany Airport, 5 miles ESE 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 Schenectady
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, 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, okra, 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: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, 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, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, 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, bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Schenectady
Schenectady's 7 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 27 in 12303 to May 7 in 12306. The hardiness zone is 5b in 12306, and 6a in 12303, 12304, 12305, 12307, 12308, 12309.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12303 | 6a | Albany Airport, 6.1 mi E | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| 12304 | 6a | Albany Airport, 5 mi ESE | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| 12305 | 6a | Albany Airport, 8.6 mi ESE | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| 12306 | 5b | Delanson 2ne, 7 mi WSW | May 7 | Oct 7 |
| 12307 | 6a | Albany Airport, 7.6 mi SE | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| 12308 | 6a | Albany Airport, 7.8 mi SE | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| 12309 | 6a | Albany Airport, 4.8 mi SE | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
Albany Airport also supplies the frost dates for Albany and Troy, so their planting calendars match Schenectady's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Schenectady
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 16 to 30 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Jul 16 to Aug 20 |
| Cilantro | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Basil | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 17 to 24 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Oct 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Jan 5 to Feb 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 1 to 29 | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 6 to 27 | Jul 23 to Aug 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 12 to 26 | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 9 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 30 to Aug 27 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Jul 23 to Aug 6 |
| Spinach | Mar 16 to 23 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 27 to May 18 | — |
| Zinnias | May 25 to Jun 1 | Jun 22 to Jul 6 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Sep 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Albany, NY zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
- Troy, NY zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
- Utica, NY zone 5b, last frost May 1
- Chicopee, MA zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Springfield, MA zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Bristol, CT zone 6b, last frost Apr 25
Planting in New YorkAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Schenectady
Questions
When is the last frost in Schenectady?
Around April 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Albany Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.
What planting zone is Schenectady in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 5b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Schenectady?
Start seeds indoors March 22 to April 5 and set plants out May 17 to 31.
When is the first frost in Schenectady?
Around October 15 in a typical year, and before October 3 about 1 year in 10.